S'gor urged to rethink waste-to-energy policy
About 70 residents attended the public hearing session on the Batu Arang WTE project. — LEW GUAN XI/ The Star
FOR decades, Malaysia has been managing its waste by burying them in landfills, which is unsustainable.
Selangor's move to build waste-to-energy (WTE) incinerators, however, is also raising concerns.
WTE is listed as one of the implementation initiatives under Policy MP30 of Selangor State Structure Plan 2035 (establishing a more effective and environmentally friendly solid waste and toxic management system).
Pushpan is concerned about inadequate environmental governance on WTE projects. The planned WTE plant in Batu Arang, Rawang, for instance, has met with widespread objections from residents.
Wong Yuenmei, a United Nations (UN) climate change consultant who has conducted extensive research on WTE, said Selangor should reassess its policy.
She told StarMetro that WTE technologies did not align with current international standards.
'It is widely regarded as outdated and harmful. Some European countries are gradually phasing out WTE,' she said.
It had been reported last year that hundreds of European cities are spurning incineration.
Meanwhile, nearly 500 municipalities across Europe are now working towards Zero Waste City certification.
Some are coming up with their own measures to reduce and recycle waste to lower their reliance on landfills and WTE incinerators.
Implementing waste prevention plans and reuse strategies as well as promoting environmental education in schools are among the requirements to be certified as a Zero Waste City.
Wong added that the incineration process at WTE facilities released harmful pollutants, which posed serious health risks to communities.
'It also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, further exacerbating the climate crisis.
'Hence, supporting WTE undermines Malaysia's climate goals, given its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris Agreement,' she said.
She also said the cost of running WTE technologies was 'disproportionately high' compared to other waste management solutions.
'WTE plants require large financial investment and the burden of these costs ultimately falls on taxpayers,' she said.
The estimated cost for the WTE plants in Jeram and Tanjung Dua Belas is more than RM1bil each, according to WorldWide Holdings Bhd (WHB), the company responsible for the construction of those facilities.
The WTE plant in Batu Arang is expected to cost RM4.5bil, according to reports.
Wong further said that burning waste for energy was unsustainable.
Echoing the sentiment is Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (CCCC), which is among non-governmental organisations objecting to the proposed construction of 18 WTE plants in Malaysia.
CCCC chief executive officer Pushpan Murugiah said WTE was not the real solution because incinerators would not only emit toxic contaminants, their presence would also exacerbate waste production due to heavy reliance on the technology.
Pushpan also raised concerns about inadequate environmental governance in WTE projects.
'Current legislation at both federal and state levels have many loopholes, causing lack of transparency, data accessibility, meaningful public participation and accountability in these high-impact projects.
'The recent public hearing on a WTE project conducted by Selangor government showed a significant flaw in the system.
'Its refusal to allow further public discourse and media presence undermines the process of public participation in the session,' he said, referring to the public hearing session on the Batu Arang WTE project on March 27 in Shah Alam.
Residents who attended the session had claimed that many of them were denied the chance to speak, while the media was barred from the session.
Pushpan said these loopholes posed serious risks such as abuse of power. — By LEW GUAN XI
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