KUCHING: Sarawak is presently the only state in Malaysia with an Integrated Solid Waste Management System (ISWMS) in place, which allows for the management of both municipal and hazardous waste in a holistic and integrated manner.

According to a press release, the 25-year concession is held by Sarawak Wastes Management Sdn Bhd (SWM); a joint venture company formed by the Sarawak State Government and Trienekens GmBH of Germany, with Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd as the system’s appointed operator.

A core element of the ISWMS is the Kuching Integrated Waste Management Park (KIWMP); South East Asia’s first and only integrated waste management facility.

KIWMP receives, treats and disposes of waste from across east Malaysia, with one of the facility’s main components being a world-class sanitary landfill.

A highly controlled disposal site for non-hazardous waste, the landfill is segmented into varying cells for better operational control with eight cells forming the full site over the concession period.

Since the start of its operations in 2004, the sanitary landfill has undergone extensive upgrading and expansion works designed to strengthen its safety and land-filling capacity due to increasing volumes of waste.

Known as the most technologically advanced landfill in South East Asia, construction of the sanitary landfill includes meticulous application of complex environmental engineering designs in accordance with international environmental standards.

It is also the only landfill in the country to operate entirely using cutting edge equipment; recently acquiring its third state-of-the-art RM2 million German model refuse compactor.

As part of the modern facility’s development blueprint, SWM recently formalised a contract with the state government to undertake recultivation works at the sanitary landfill following several years of research and feasibility studies, with construction slated to begin in the next few months.

Speaking at the event, Assistant Minister of Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh stressed the importance of the recultivation project to prevent any future environmental degradation.

“Waste management is an integral part of urban environmental planning and infrastructure development to ensure a safe and healthy human environment while considering the promotion of sustainable economic growth.

“The treatment facilities and services for municipal, industrial and scheduled waste that  we have  in  Sarawak,  from logistics planning, landfill engineering, compaction and layering to interception of leachate generation and treatment, incineration and control of methane release from waste decomposition to the rehabilitation of closed landfills takes into account all likely ecological impacts with respect to the pollution of air, water and soil,” he said.

“Responsibility for the public and the environment must continue even after operations of a landfill ceases. Once the last protective layer has been laid, recultivation of the expanse of the landfill must begin.

“While vegetation beautifies, regular control of the drainage and degasification system ensures safe conditions of the former site.

The groundwater will be continuously tested,  ensuring  that barriers are still watertight.”

Len also added that while it was fortunate that the state government had had the foresight to proactively mitigate negative impacts brought about by Sarawak’s rapid industrialisation through the installation of a proper waste management system from as early as 1999, continuous urbanisation would undoubtedly fuel a further increase in volume and complexities of waste unless changes in attitude and habits were made.

“As a start, the local councils could perhaps start work on pilot projects of waste segregation at source. Only with proper waste prevention approaches and education can we develop a truly sustainable Sarawak,” he stressed.

The recultivation project agreement was officiated by permanent secretary for the Ministry of Resource Planning and Environment  Datu Sudarsono Osman, SWM director and also Trieneken Sarawak’s executive chairman Jurgen Pickenhagen, SWM director Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, controller of Natural Resources and Environment Board Peter Sawal and principal assistant director of State Planning Unit Julin Alen.

Also present were Trienekens’ chief executive officer Ting Ching Zung, projects general manager Alice Lee and senior manager of Waste Disposal Facilities Simon Chow.