As Sarawak advances towards modernisation and smart city living, the issue of waste management has become increasingly critical. Traditional methods, such as landfilling, are proving insufficient in the face of growing urbanisation and waste production. Consequently, incineration has emerged as a potential alternative — one of the most promising, yet controversial, technologies in this realm.
What are Incinerators and How Do They Work?
Incinerators are industrial facilities designed to dispose of waste through combustion. The process begins by feeding municipal solid waste into the incinerator, where it is subjected to high temperatures.
The typical incineration process can be broken down into several stages:
- Combustion: Waste is fed into a furnace where it is burned at high temperatures. This process not only reduces the waste’s volume but also breaks down harmful organic compounds, including dioxins, ensuring complete combustion.
- Boiler/Steam Turbine: The heat generated from combustion is used to produce steam, which then drives a turbine connected to an electricity generator. Any excess heat can be used for other purposes, such as heating swimming pools.
- Exhaust Gas Cleaning: The exhaust gas produced during combustion is treated using advanced pollution control systems to ensure that emissions meet stringent environmental standards. This includes neutralising acidic gases, removing heavy metals and organic pollutants, filtering dust and particulates, and reducing nitrogen oxides.
- Ash Residue Handling: The ash left after incineration is categorised into bottom ash, which can be reused as construction material, and fly ash, which is treated and disposed of in dedicated landfills. Some incineration plants use ash melting technology to further reduce the ash volume and stabilise any hazardous materials, making them safe for reuse.
By burning waste at high temperatures, typically above 850°C, incinerators can reduce the volume of waste by over 90% and converting it into ash, flue gases, and heat. This feature makes them one of the most efficient waste management technologies available.
Historically, landfills were the primary method of waste disposal, but as land became scarce and environmental concerns grew, many countries turned to incinerators as a more sustainable and less polluting alternative.
Modern incinerators have evolved significantly from their predecessors; most are equipped with filtration systems to capture harmful emissions like dioxins and furans, which are by-products of the combustion process. Some incinerators are also designed to recover energy, converting the heat generated during incineration into electricity, which can be supplied to the grid, thereby converting waste into energy (WtE). This dual function of waste reduction and energy recovery positions incineration as a valuable tool in managing waste, especially in regions where landfills are nearing capacity.
While the concept of burning waste might conjure images of dirty, smoke-filled skies, several advanced incineration plants of today are equipped with advanced technology that minimises environmental impact, producing much less odour and require less land than traditional landfills.
Incineration: A Growing Necessity?
With urban centres like Kuching and Miri generating more waste than ever, Sarawak is grappling with a looming waste crisis. As landfills near capacity, the government is considering viable alternatives to traditional waste disposal methods.
To address this issue, the Sarawak Premier has announced plans to replace landfills with hi-tech incinerators to manage waste more sustainably. The state Economic Planning Unit is currently studying the feasibility of setting up two incinerators, one each for the northern and southern zones of Sarawak. The study, expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2025, will explore waste-to-energy technology. The model used in Sweden is being considered, as its population size is comparable to Sarawak’s. If implemented, the incinerators could be operational by 2026.
The study aims to identify sites for the incinerators, with one proposed for Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman, and Betong divisions in southern Sarawak. The Kuching division alone produces about 700 tonnes of waste daily, making it a viable candidate for the incinerator. A similar site is being considered for the northern zone, covering Sarikei, Sibu, Bintulu, Miri, and Limbang.
Incinerators’ ability to significantly decrease waste volume, combined with their energy recovery capabilities, makes them an attractive option for managing waste. Professor Agamutu Pariatamby from the Jeffrey Sachs Centre on Sustainable Development, who specialises in solid and hazardous waste management provided a statement on the matter.
“Generally, the public does not see the harm caused by a landfill since it is not visible, but greenhouse gas from landfills is more damaging than incinerator carbon dioxide. The leachate (hazardous liquid produced in landfill sites) is also most difficult to treat.”
Similarly, another professional in the waste management industry (who declined to be named) said incinerators in Malaysia are necessary until recycling rates reach above 75%.
“Awareness-building and more convenient ways to recycle and separate at source need to be encouraged, otherwise we will be stuck between polluting our soil and polluting our air. Both are not ideal scenarios.”
Environmental Concerns and Public Opposition
However, the adoption of incineration as a waste management solution is not without its controversies. Environmentalists and community groups like Froilan Grate, GAIA Asia Pacific Coordinator have raised concerns about the potential health risks associated with even modern incinerators, particularly the emission of toxic substances like dioxins and furans. These pollutants, if not properly controlled, can have severe impacts on air quality and public health.
Malaysia as a whole faces a growing waste problem, with 137 landfills in operation as of January 2024. Of these, 21 are sanitary landfills, while 126 non-sanitary landfills continue to release harmful gases and leach into the environment. Additionally, illegal dumpsites for domestic and scheduled waste have exacerbated the issue, worsened by imported waste in recent years. Sarawak is not exempt from this crisis.
Critics argue that despite advancements in technology, incineration remains a short-term solution that diverts attention from more sustainable waste management practices. More specifically, they have criticised the strategy of relying on WtE facilities goes against the best practices of the Zero-Waste hierarchy that focuses on the 4 Rs: Redesign, Reduce, Reuse, and Refill.
Additionally, critics have pointed out that over-reliance on costly WtE facilities does not help to promote a circular economy. While turning waste into energy may sound good on paper, it creates more pollution and delays a necessary transition to a circular economy as WtEs perpetuate the linear “take-make-waste” economy, which destroys valuable resources and perpetuates waste generation.
Yuenmei Wong, an independent researcher from Malaysia, highlighted that the country’s legislation primarily addresses essential aspects of solid waste management like collection, disposal, and infrastructure, with insufficient enforcement on minimising waste during resource extraction. As such, incinerators will likely not incentivise manufacturers would not be incentivised to refine their manufacturing processes to be more sustainable or reduce wastage without proper policy and enforcement.
Furthermore, the financial burden of building and maintaining incinerators is substantial. Hence, there is growing concern that the long-term financial and environmental costs may outweigh the benefits. Many citizens question whether these funds could be better allocated towards more sustainable waste management practices, such as tackling the country’s prominent single-use or throw-away culture and behaviour.
Exploring Alternatives and Moving Towards Zero Waste
In response to these criticisms, some experts suggest that Sarawak should explore a holistic approach to waste management by prioritising waste reduction and recycling over incineration. Countries like Japan that utilises WtE have successfully implemented policies that emphasise waste separation, recycling, and composting, reducing their reliance on incineration. Yuichiro Hattori, researcher and former Solid Waste Management Officer in Japan, pointed out that with higher compliance requirement for high environmental standards, WtE would be a less cost-effective industry in the long run.
In Sarawak, there is potential to adopt similar strategies. Expanding recycling programs, promoting composting, and encouraging the production and consumption of sustainable products could significantly reduce the volume of waste generated. By focusing on waste reduction at the source, the state could alleviate the pressure on its waste management infrastructure, including the need for incinerators.
“Communities in Asia and the Pacific have long since proven that practical, low-cost, and community-led practices are more effective than burning waste,” said Brex Arevalo, GAIA Asia Pacific’s Climate and Anti-Incineration Campaigner, in a symposium organised by the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP), Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), and Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) Asia Pacific.
“But here we are, as we get more adept at zero waste solutions, waste burning industries are also getting more eloquent in selling their product offering fake and empty promises.”
“I don’t want Asia Pacific or Malaysia to repeat the mistakes that Europe made in the past,” said Janek Vahk, Zero Pollution Policy Manager of Zero Waste Europe, highlighting the milestone achieved by the EU since 2015 by excluding WtE incineration from financial support and shifting to prioritising waste minimisation.
“Waste pollution is a global problem that requires local solutions. Zero Waste values environmental and social justice. Placing humans at the centre of waste management recognises their lived experiences and expertise refuting the need to continuously burn waste and valuable resources,” said Grate.
The Path Forward: Encouraging Zero Waste Practices
While incineration may play a role in Sarawak’s waste management strategy, it should not be viewed as the ultimate solution. The criticisms and concerns surrounding incinerators highlight the importance of pursuing more sustainable alternatives. By prioritising waste reduction, recycling, and composting, Sarawak can move towards a zero-waste future.
Even if the government continues to implement incinerators, the public can still make a significant impact by adopting zero-waste practices in their daily lives. Simple actions like reducing single-use plastics, composting organic waste, and supporting local recycling initiatives can collectively lead to a substantial reduction in waste generation.
In conclusion, the future of waste management in Sarawak lies not only in the hands of policymakers but also in the choices made by every individual. By embracing a zero-waste mindset, we can contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future for Sarawak, regardless of the direction taken by government waste management strategies.
References
- “Hi-tech incinerators to replace landfills, says Sarawak Premier”
- “Advanced Waste Disposal Technology Makes Tokyo the Cleanest City”
- “United Nations Industrial Development Organisation: A Durable Incinerator with Smokeless Combustion and High Operability for Safe Disposal of Medical Wastes”
- Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department: Waste — Problems & Solutions”
- “Environmental Technology Council: Advanced Technologies — High Temperature Incineration”
- “Waste incinerator plan sparks protests, highlights Malaysia’s landfill shortage”
- “Cenviro: Scheduled Waste to Energy”
- “Pollution Engineerings (M) Sdn. Bhd.: Incinerator & Dryer System”
- “Incinerators — the way forward in waste management”
- “Hazardous Waste Treatment Facilities in Malaysia Started Full-scale Operation”
- “Malaysia’s Waste-to-Energy plans are a wasted opportunity”
- “Batu Arang incinerator fight: a beacon as communities in Asia Pacific challenge waste burning industry’s fake promises”
