New landfill site needed
KUALA SELANGOR: The throw-away culture of Selangor folk is forcing the state government to cut short the lifespan of the Jeram sanitary landfill to 11 years from the estimated 16.
The 65ha site became operational on Jan 1, 2007 after the closure of the landfill in Air Hitam, Puchong, on Dec 31, 2006.
The latter was filled to the brim after 15 years.
The Jeram landfill is expected to be closed in 2018, although it was only planned to cease operation in 2023, said Datuk Mohd Arif Ab Rahman, chairman of the state-owned Worldwide Holdings Bhd, the landfill operator.
“We will have to look for another new site soon,” he said during his speech at the ISO 14001 Sirim recognition certificate presentation to Worldwide Holdings here yesterday.
Currently, the landfill is receiving and treating solid waste from Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Ampang Jaya, Klang and Kuala Selangor.
Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the state government spent about RM500mil on waste disposal annually.
He said the Klang Valley and Selangor produced 6,000 metric tonnes of garbage daily.
“We need the co-operation from everyone in cutting down the waste. The population growth in the state is faster than the national economic growth, contributing to the massive amount of wastes generated,” he added.
The state government through Worldwide Holdings is assessing the methods and technology that can be used to manage solid waste more effectively.
Several methods – the mechanical biological treatment that promotes recycling, the material recovery facility technology and incinerators – have been identified.
“The solid waste management in the state can be carried out well with the new technologies,” said Khalid.
He added that an effective waste management would not only help to preserve the environment, it could also generate income for the state.
For example, the Air Hitam landfill, which had received more than six million metric tonnes of waste throughout its lifespan, had generated electricity for 2,000 consumers through the release of methane gas.
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