RM20mil needed to clear a landfill, govt exploring waste-to-energy solutions, says Nga

Housing and Local Government minister Nga Kor Ming

KUALA LUMPUR: It will cost the government around RM20mil to cover up a landfill, says Nga Kor Ming.

The Housing and Local Government Minister said that the cost to clear a landfill is higher than that for Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plants.

“One large-scale landfill requires tens of thousands of acres, and development is impeded within a five to ten-kilometre radius, unlike WTE plants which, despite higher costs, occupy less space.

“The ministry will continue to find the most effective WTE model for the country,” he told the Dewan Rakyat during the oral question and answer session on Monday (July 1).

He was replying to a supplementary question from Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Zin on efforts by the government to convince the public of WTE plants’ safety despite their higher implementation costs compared to landfills.

Nga stressed that there is a need to balance the nation’s environmental sustainability and the financial model's viability with modernisation using advanced WTE technology.

“We will adopt a technology with a proven track record before it is implemented and used in the country.

“The ministry will continue to raise awareness among the public so that they can support the government's efforts to protect environmental sustainability and ensure there is no foul odour pollution, hazardous gas emissions, or issues with landfills,” he added.

Earlier, Nga was asked to provide a list of 18 locations for the development of WTE plants across the country, including in Penang.

Replying to Wan Razali Wan Nor (Perikatan Nasional-Kuantan) who asked if the government had sought out other countries that used WTE plants, Nga said the government is actively conducting comprehensive reviews on countries that applied such technology.

“WTE plants were initiated in the 1980s. Our neighbours, like Singapore with five WTE plants, and countries like Vietnam, China, and those in Europe have successfully utilised them to generate renewable energy.

“Although Malaysia lags behind, we see it as an opportunity to learn from their experiences,” he added.

On a similar matter, Nga said the ministry is targeting to improve the national recycling rate to 44% from the current 33% by 2025.

Among the measures taken, he said the government will install 100 drive-through recycling centres at shopping centres across the country.

“The community can exchange newspapers and used cooking oil for cash at these malls, aligning with our 'trash-to-cash' scheme.

“This approach proved successful in Alor Setar, Kedah. We aim to establish these drive-through centres in all urban areas,” he said.