01-08-2025
Waste repurposing plan sparks mixed reactions
PETALING JAYA: Optimising agricultural waste to promote a circular economy and expanding waste-to-energy (WTE) plants to reduce dependence on landfills under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) have drawn varied responses from environmental groups and experts.
Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism event and projects officer Wong Si Peng stressed the importance of viewing waste as a resource for a circular economy.
She said ensuring proper separation of waste was crucial for sound recovery paths and clean renewable energy.
She believes Malaysia should explore anaerobic digesters for WTE purposes as food waste constitutes 44% of the country's municipal solid waste.
'If all the food and organic waste are separated, they can be converted into green energy using the anaerobic digester technology before being sent to biogas facilities.'
However, Greenpeace Malaysia Climate and Energy Campaigner Hamizah Shamsudeen views WTE as a short-term solution.
'Malaysia needs holistic methods to combat waste management issues. We must reuse and repurpose, such as agricultural waste.'
She added that WTE is not a significant solution for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, citing concerns about carbon emissions throughout its lifecycle, high operating costs, energy consumption and safety issues.
Meanwhile, environment and waste management specialist Dr Theng Lee Chong said the government needs to be more transparent with the cost of this paradigm shift from landfills to WTE in the coming years.
'How will the financial model work and who is going to bear the costs?' he asked.
Theng said the selection of a good WTE system is crucial, as it is expensive, especially when it becomes a private initiative.
Universiti Malaya Institute of Advance Studies Honorary Professor Dr Sumiani Yusoff welcomed the idea of reducing landfill dependency, acknowledging Malaysia's abundant biomass for energy conversion.
She emphasised the need for proper planning, implementation and meticulous management of these facilities.
'We need the waste to be properly segregated. We have talent here but we need to provide adequate training to those who will be managing these waste-to-energy facilities.'
During the tabling of the 13MP in Parliament, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the use of agricultural waste will be optimised in driving the circular economy and generating new, sustainable added value.
