SHAH ALAM, June 30 — KDEB Waste Management Sdn Bhd (KDEBWM) is hoping the Jeram 2 and Tanjung Dua Belas waste-to-energy (WTE) plants are completed soon to expand Selangor’s use of the technology and lower dependence on landfills.
KDEBWM managing director Dato’ Ramli Mohd Tahir said the state needs more WTE plants as it cannot depend on landfills, which require vast expanses of land, to cope with rising waste volumes.
“I hope Jeram Phase 2 can be built as soon as possible, same with Tanjung Dua Belas. We must have more WTE plants across Selangor because we can’t depend on landfills forever.
“Every five to seven years, we have to use between 100 and 150 acres (around 40ha to 60ha) for landfills. With more WTE facilities, lorry operations would also be cleaner and safer as they don’t have to cross the challenging terrain of landfills,” he added.
He said this at a press conference at the KDEBWM headquarters here yesterday after signing a memorandum of understanding between KDEBWM and TM Enviro Industries Sdn Bhd to strengthen e-waste management.
Ramli said KDEBWM is also centring operational safety in sending waste to the Jeram 1 WTE Plant, which is in its testing and commissioning stage.
“From a lorry handler’s perspective, there are several improvements to be made. We must look into the aspect of driver, crew and lorry safety, especially when lorries are reversing to release waste into bunkers. All safety measures must be fully ensured,” he added.
He also said KDEBWM will share recommended improvements with Worldwide Holdings Bhd, based on its experience since last month of sending waste to the Jeram 1 WTE Plant.
“We will share feedback on (our) experience, including the delivery process from hopper to bunker, the waiting periods, and lorry movements, so operations may be improved.
“We will also streamline operations on our side so waste management is more efficient,” he explained.
According to Ramli, only part of Klang’s waste is being sent to the Jeram 1 plant throughout the testing and commissioning period, ahead of the plant’s full operation.
“For now, we have been told to limit the daily number of lorries because the plant is still in the testing and commissioning phase. Klang itself produces around 750 to 800 tonnes of waste a day.
“When the plant reaches maximum capacity and is fully operational, we hope all of the waste from Klang can be sent to the facility,” Ramli said.
Previously, Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said the Jeram 2 WTE Plant is expected to be completed by year end, while the Tanjung Dua Belas WTE Plant will be done in late 2027 or early 2028.
He added that when three WTE plants are up and running, waste processing capacity will increase to 5,500 tonnes per day.
Based on a 2024 Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) report, Malaysians produce more than 39,000 tonnes of solid waste daily, which is 1.17kg per person.
From that amount, food waste is the biggest component at 30.6 per cent, followed by plastic at 21.9 per cent, all borne by the thousands of garbage trucks mobilised every day to transport waste produced by modern society.
