Selangor Journal
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari (third from left) looking at the model of the Jeram waste-to-energy facility project during its groundbreaking ceremony in Jeram, Kuala Selangor, on October 17, 2023. — Picture by NUR ADIBAH AHMAD IZAM/SELANGORKINI

Conventional landfills thing of past, waste-to-energy facilities the new normal

By Danial Dzulkifly

KUALA SELANGOR, Oct 17 — Confronted with escalating waste management concerns owing to its burgeoning population, Selangor is championing the fusion of sustainable strategies with traditional landfill practices.

Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said the age-old methodology of merely building new landfills to manage wastes is no longer tenable, highlighting the pressing need for evolution.

The conventional way of doing things has not only prolonged negative impacts on the soil, leaving undevelopable lands, but also falls short of addressing the anticipated waste management requirements of the future.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the waste-to-energy (WTE) facility in Jeram today, he stressed the crucial role of innovative waste management.

“I hope this (facility) will kickstart a new normal of a different kind, a new normal which has the modern-day mantra of ‘sustainability’ at its heart and core, a new normal where we begin placing the building blocks to transition landfills into becoming more sustainable, like this WTE facility.

“The choice in front of us is rather straightforward; we have to stop the business-as-usual approach and move from trash cans toward more recycling bins.

“We must change our perspective on waste. Instead of trash, it should be viewed now as an asset to create energy to reduce our reliance on traditional coal or gas-fired power plants, and as a resource which creates a new industry while allowing our environment and landfills to heal,” Amirudin said, adding he hopes to see the new facilities up and running soon.

A view of the model of the Jeram waste-to-energy facility project during its groundbreaking ceremony in Jeram, Kuala Selangor, on October 17, 2023. — Picture by NUR ADIBAH AHMAD IZAM/SELANGORKINI

The Menteri Besar added that Malaysia generates approximately 38,000 tonnes of solid waste daily, with Selangor alone contributing around 7,000 tonnes, accounting for nearly 19 per cent.

Later at a press conference, he said conventional landfills, like those in Tanjung Dua Belas and previously in Jeram, would have a limited lifespan if not complemented with sustainable components.

“If we rely on traditional methods at our existing landfill sites, we anticipate they would only survive the next three to four years. After which, we would be pressed to identify new areas to set up additional landfills.

“However, one must consider the consequences of earmarking a new parcel of land, perhaps spanning 40 to 50 hectares. Such land would be rendered undevelopable for the next two decades or more.

“This not only results in a squandered land resource but also perpetuates environmental concerns, like methane gas emissions, pollution, or pest issues,” Amirudin said.

The project to develop the WTE facility in Jeram is managed by Worldwide Holdings Bhd (WHB) in partnership with Shanghai Electric, which acts as the engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning contractor.

Located at the Jeram Integrated Solid Waste Management Center (ISWMC), this initiative looks to process 3,000 tons of solid waste daily, generating about 50 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy and is expected to be completed by 2026.

WHB also plans to expand its effort to develop a new WTE plant at the Tanjung Dua Belas ISWMC in Kuala Langat, capable of handling 1,800 tons of solid waste daily and producing 38 MW of electricity.

Among those in attendance today were Selangor State Secretary Dato’ Haris Kasim, state executive councillor for local government Ng Suee Lim, state executive councillor for public health and environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin, and Worldwide Holdings Bhd group chief executive officer Datin Paduka Norazlina Zakaria.

A view of the model of the Jeram waste-to-energy facility project during its groundbreaking ceremony in Jeram, Kuala Selangor, on October 17, 2023. — Picture by NUR ADIBAH AHMAD IZAM/SELANGORKINI

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