Ignis 3R project to rehabilitate decades-old Sandakan landfill
SANDAKAN: A decades-old landfill here that has been emitting foul odours and leaking untreated waste into rivers is finally being rehabilitated using a home-grown waste recovery system called Ignis 3R.
The site, located at Mile 8 on Jalan Lintas Sibuga, covers a total of 10 acres – of which six acres have been handed over to SG Ignis (Sabah) Sdn Bhd for rehabilitation.
The Sg Sibuga landfill served Sandakan residents for over 20 years before operations shifted to a new site in Kampung Melayu, Mile 8, in 2023. At the height of its use, it received up to 500 tonnes of rubbish daily.
With most of the original landfill cells long filled, bulldozers were used to spread trash on the surface, creating mountains of untreated waste.
Residents living just a few kilometres away in Bandar Sibuga Jaya, Taman Mawar and Bandar Utama Mile 6 often complained of an unbearable stench, especially in the evenings. Some eventually moved out of the area due to this.
The site also lacked basic environmental safeguards – with no leachate or landfill gas treatment in place for years. During storms, uncovered garbage is swept into Sungai Seguntor, which flows into the sea. The release of leachate into waterways further raised concerns about its impact on health and marine life.
Speaking at the site handover, Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam said the project marks a long-overdue turning point for waste management in Sandakan.
"This landfill will be rehabilitated and turned into usable, managed land. The waste that has piled up will be converted into something that can be sold," he said.
Joachim said he hoped this solution would work – especially since technologies such as waste-to-energy were found to be unsuitable for Sabah.
He added that if the Sandakan project proves successful, the state government intends to replicate it in other districts, starting with Papar.
The Ignis 3R system, developed by parent company Ignis Environment Initiatives Sdn Bhd, uses a globally patented rehabilitation technology to process legacy waste without burning or open dumping. Decomposed materials are converted into usable by-products like oil, carbon and alternative fuels.
Its implementation is led by SG Ignis Sabah chief executive officer Dr Davina Markus, a young Sabahan entrepreneur who brought the modified system from pilot projects in Johor to be scaled up in her home state.
"This is not the first time the project is being done, but it is the first time in Sabah," said Dr Davina.
"The technology has been upgraded and modified — and Sabah is the first to receive this improved version. The system is called Ignis 3R, and 'Ignis' means fire in Latin."
Walter Kenson, president of the Sandakan Municipal Council (SMC), acknowledged that the Sg Sibuga landfill had long exceeded its capacity and was a burden to local governance. He said the council welcomes the rehabilitation as a much-needed relief.
Also present at the event were Local Government and Housing Ministry permanent secretary Datuk Dr Jamili Nais, Karamunting assemblyman Datuk George Hiew Vun Zin and nominated assemblyman Datuk Jaffari Waliam.
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