- Selangor is adopting Waste-to-Energy to cut landfill use and generate clean energy
- Modern WTE plants reduce waste by 90% and drive green growth through jobs and innovation
Malaysians generate an average of 1.17 kilogrammes of waste per person each day, with Selangor contributing nearly a quarter of the total. This makes the state’s waste management crisis especially pressing. To reduce dependence on unsustainable landfills, Selangor has made the Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plant a cornerstone of its strategy.
Unlike developed nations such as Singapore, Sweden, and Denmark—where landfill reliance has been cut to below 5%—Malaysia, alongside Indonesia and Thailand, continues to depend heavily on open landfills.
“In an integrated solid waste management system, every stage is crucial—from household disposal and collection through to final treatment. Along the way, multiple methods are used, including composting, anaerobic digestion, material recovery facilities, WTE, and landfills. The main aim is to reduce the volume of waste heading to landfills while conserving valuable resources,” explained Zamri Abdul Rahman (pic), chair of the Technical and Research Committee, WMAM.
WTE plays a key role in this system. While organic waste is better suited for composting or anaerobic digestion, non-recyclable or low-value materials can be processed through WTE, which reduces waste volumes by up to 90% and extends landfill lifespan.
Climate pressures make the case even stronger. Heavy rains generate excess leachate that is difficult to manage, while dry spells raise the risk of landfill fires. WTE provides a safer and more sustainable solution.
Crucially, WTE complements rather than replaces recycling and composting. Integrated systems in Japan and Europe show that building more WTE facilities actually drives higher recycling rates, while supporting “zero landfill” strategies.
Concerns about health and pollution often stem from outdated incinerator technologies. Modern WTE plants, however, are equipped with advanced flue gas treatment and pollution controls that allow them to operate safely near urban centres without risks to health or odour.
Beyond waste reduction, WTE also produces renewable energy. A plant handling 1,000 tonnes of waste daily can generate about 20 MW of electricity around the clock—far exceeding solar’s effective output of 4.5 hours a day. This helps cut reliance on fossil fuels and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, as landfills are Malaysia’s third-largest emitter.
Economically, WTE creates added value by generating skilled jobs, enabling technology transfer, and building local expertise—benefits traditional landfills cannot match.
WTE as a Key Initiative
According to Hairi Ali, general manager of the WTE Project, landfill sites in Malaysia expanded dramatically from 300 hectares in 2000 to 2,100 hectares in 2010. “If this trend continues, Selangor may need 5,000 acres of landfill by 2050—half the size of Putrajaya—an impossible prospect,” he warned.
The planned SIS Rawang WTE plant is one of the state’s flagship initiatives under its green economy and renewable energy agenda. Thanks to modern technology, post-combustion residue can be reduced to just 10–15%, a far more sustainable outcome compared to current landfill methods.
Every development stage of the Rawang project complies with strict environmental regulations, including Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) requirements. The location was selected after detailed studies of waste catchments, land suitability, and economic factors, with the goal of reducing landfill reliance, recovering energy, and positioning Selangor as a leader in modern waste management.
A Greener Alternative to Conventional Incinerators
Haji Hanafiah Zainal Abidin, a lecturer at UiTM’s Faculty of Chemical Engineering, noted that WTE is more efficient than conventional incinerators. WTE facilities operate at a larger scale, convert combustion heat into electricity, and incorporate advanced flue gas treatment that complies with international standards such as Malaysia’s Environmental Quality (Clean Air) Regulations 2014.
By contrast, conventional incinerators focus only on burning waste and treating flue gas, releasing all combustion heat into the environment. These smaller facilities are typically built in isolated areas, such as islands or highlands, where waste volumes are limited.
The efficiency of any WTE plant depends on the quality and quantity of waste. Each plant is designed around local waste characteristics, with customised operating procedures. Understanding these specifics is key to building efficient facilities, as shown by comparisons between Malaysia, Japan, and Sweden.
As a new industry in Malaysia, WTE still requires extensive research on planning, implementation, technical development, operations, maintenance, standards, and workforce development. Building local expertise and gathering data will be critical to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the sector.
With WTE, Selangor is not only tackling its waste management crisis but also paving the way towards a cleaner, more sustainable, and competitive future.
