Composting also reduces reliance on landfills. — Filepic and courtesy photos from WHB
WITH landfills fast overflowing, Selangor government has turned to incinerators as a solution to tackle its mountainous waste problem.
State public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said the waste-to-energy (WTE) strategy was a complementary end-point solution for non-recyclable waste.
She said several waste management initiatives currently being implemented by the state were geared towards maximising resource recovery at the upstream level.
“These initiatives range from promoting separation at source, banning single-use plastics and encouraging recycling and composting to promoting extended producer responsibility (EPR).
“After all the recoverable materials have been separated, the residual waste will be channelled to WTE plants.
“This way, WTE serves as a complementary end point for non-recyclable waste rather than a primary solution.
Local authorities in Selangor are encouraging community-based recycling initiatives.
“This integrated approach ensures that we are not only managing waste more sustainably, but are also moving closer towards a circular economic model for Selangor,” she said.
Being accountable
Under the EPR, producers are responsible for the environmental impact of their products throughout their entire lifecycle, including disposal and recycling.
Jamaliah said Selangor would continue working closely with the private sector to enhance recycling activities through voluntary initiatives by producers and manufacturers.
“Though the state government fully supports the implementation of EPR, there is still no legislative framework for its enforcement within the state as Malaysia is still transitioning from voluntary to mandatory EPR policy,” she said.
Overview of WTE plant being built in Jeram, Kuala Selangor.
“Hence, the state government will continue working closely with the Federal Government and its agencies to develop EPR and circular economy policies to ensure effective implementation at state level in the future.”
Raising recycling awareness
On April 22, the SELKitar campaign focusing on intensifying public awareness and participation in recycling activities throughout Selangor was launched.
“A key component of the campaign is the expansion of our door-to-door collection service for recyclables, particularly in residential areas,” said Jamaliah.
“This marks a significant step forward in institutionalising separation at source practices across the state.
“Communication, education and public awareness activities will also be conducted to ensure residents are well-informed, engaged and empowered to adopt long-term recycling habits.
Jamaliah says WTE is asolution for non-recyclable waste.
“This initiative plays a vital role in supporting the state government’s commitment to environmental sustainability, especially in preparation for the enforcement of mandatory separation at source under Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007,” she said.
According to reports, the Cabinet had granted Selangor in-principle approval to adopt Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 in February this year.
Section 74 of the Act outlines the power of the Director-General of Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management to give written directions to any person to separate, handle or store any solid waste he or she possesses.
Those failing to comply with the directions shall be subject to a fine not exceeding RM1,000 upon conviction.
Jamaliah said local authorities across Selangor had been actively implementing community-based programmes such as recycling as well as used cooking oil and e-waste collections.
Selangor government is promoting separation at source in the state.
“These programmes aim to strengthen public participation in sustainable waste practices and support the broader goal of reducing landfill dependency through greater material recovery and reuse at the local level.
“The state government will continue promoting the concept of 5Rs – refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle – to encourage Selangor residents to be more aware about the roles they can play to reduce waste as well as to be innovative in reusing and repurposing materials,” she said.
Inevitable problem
As the most populated and industrialised state, Selangor generates some 7,000 tonnes of domestic waste and 3,000 tonnes of bulk waste daily, according to a media statement by KDEB Waste Management (KDEBWM) in January last year.
KDEBWM was appointed in 2016 to manage Selangor’s waste collection and public cleansing services.
It was also reported that waste generation in Selangor is expected to increase by 6% annually.
Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari was reported as saying in 2023 that the landfills in Selangor, particularly those in Tanjung Dua Belas (Kuala Langat) and Jeram (Kuala Selangor), might only last another two to four years.
To deal with the growing waste management crisis, in 2021, then local government and public transportation committee chairman Ng Sze Han said, “The state government had in 2016 agreed for Worldwide Holdings Bhd (WHB) to spearhead efforts in developing the WTE plant in Jeram, Kuala Selangor.”
The Jeram and Tanjung Dua Belas plants are being built by WHB.
The sanitary landfill in Tanjung Dua Belas in Kuala Langat.
The third in Batu Arang, Rawang, is to be built by KDEBWM alognside a private company.
WHB in a statement to StarMetro said the WTE project in Jeram was more than 70% complete and expected to commence operations by year end.
“Meanwhile, the design, planning and procurement works for the WTE project in Tanjung Dua Belas commenced last year.
“It is expected to be operational by 2027,” the statement said.
Reports have stated that the WTE plant in Jeram is capable of disposing 3,000 tonnes of solid waste per day and generating 52MW of electricity per hour.
Meanwhile, the WTE plant in Tanjung Dua Belas is reportedly capable of handling 1,800 tonnes of solid waste daily and producing 38MW of electricity per hour.
Both these plants are part of Integrated Solid Waste Management Centre (ISWMC), which is the long-term plan by the state government to manage solid waste sustainably.
ISWMC will incorporate facilities like WTE plants, composting plants, material recovery facilities for construction and demolition waste, anaerobic digesters as well as a research and development centres, according to WHB’s website.
The company also said WTE plants were developed as a long-term waste management solution at state level due to rising population, industrialisation and urbanisation.
“Without an alternative waste management method, existing landfills will need to be expanded continuously which is not sustainable due to its environmental impact,” WHB stated.
