Hi-tech incinerators to replace landfills, says Sarawak Premier

KUCHING: Sarawak plans to replace landfills with hi-tech incinerators as a more sustainable way to manage waste, says Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.

The Premier said he had instructed the state Economic Planning Unit to conduct a study on the possibility of setting up two incinerators, one each for the northern and southern zones.

"Over time we feel that our waste will continue to increase. We are now using landfills but we need to move towards using the latest technology in terms of incinerators," he told reporters after officiating the 36th Kuching City Day celebration here on Thursday (Aug 1).

Abang Johari said one of the proposed incinerators would cater for Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman and Betong divisions in southern Sarawak.

He said this would produce a sufficient volume of waste to achieve economy of scale for the implementation of the incinerator.

"Kuching alone produces about 700 tonnes of waste a day. We want to have a reasonable volume, so we will collect the waste from Kuching to Betong.

"We will identify a site in the centre of the zone for the incinerator.

"Similarly, we will have a site for the northern zone from Sarikei, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri to Limbang," Abang Johari said.

He added that the study would also look into waste-to-energy technology for the incinerators.

"We will study the model used in Sweden as its population is similar to ours. Sweden also sells energy from the waste," he said.

Abang Johari said the study was expected to be finished by the first quarter of next year.

"Then we can implement it in 2026 for all waste, including solid waste and domestic waste," he said, adding that the cost would depend on the study.