Fear of WTE rooted in outdated perception, says expert

 Environmental specialist says greater transparency and public engagement are key to overcoming opposition to waste-to-energy projects.

Malaysians produce 39,000 tonnes of waste each day, most of it ending up in landfills, making it all the more essential that we have waste-to-energy facilities. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Most Malaysians agree that the country needs stronger waste management, but the support often fades when the facilities are planned near their neighbourhoods.

This attitude, described variously as NIMBY (not in my backyard), characterises the residents’ opposition to proposed developments in their local area based on concerns over pollution, traffic, or safety even when they accept the need for such facilities elsewhere.

Universiti Teknologi Mara environmental engineering expert Marfiah Wahid said many of these concerns stem from previous experience with waste management facilities such as odour, traffic, noise, leachate, and weak regulatory enforcement.

She said the locations proposed for some projects, including former mining land, as well as concerns over their scale and potential health impact, have further heightened public anxiety.

Marfiah Wahid.

“I think people in Malaysia are very afraid. They have a very negative perception of waste-to-energy (WTE) projects because it is based on our own experience,” she told FMT.

Marfiah said many Malaysians still often mistake WTE facilities for conventional incinerators, even though the technology and environmental safeguards are very different.

“WTE is totally different from conventional incinerators, but people think it is the same thing with a different name,” she said.

She added that modern WTE facilities are designed not only to dispose of waste but also to generate useful outputs such as electricity or biogas.

Concerns not entirely misplaced

However, Marfiah said public opposition should not always be dismissed.

Residents are often concerned about dust, increased traffic due to heavy vehicles and the possibility of long-term health impact, especially when facilities are proposed near residential areas.

She said residents also want clearer information on expected emissions, emergency response plans and operational monitoring, adding that consultation should begin early and continue throughout a project’s lifecycle.

“Project developers must be open to the public and keep them informed about the control measures and mitigation measures they have.”

To address these concerns, Marfiah added, project developers and authorities must be transparent about the measures in place to control emissions, manage waste transportation routes and mitigate environmental impact.

“They must be open to the public and inform people about the control measures and mitigation measures they have.”

While public concerns are legitimate, Marfiah warned, rejecting every proposed waste facility carries its own environmental and economic consequences.

Malaysia generates roughly 39,000 tonnes of waste daily, with the volume continuing to rise each year. Although recycling rates have improved, a large proportion of waste still ends up in landfills.

“If we don’t want landfills, what is another solution? It is WTE.”

Marfiah said that one of the key mechanisms for addressing community concerns is through the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process.

An EIA is done to identify potential environmental, social and health impacts before a project is carried out to determine what mitigation measures are required.

The process typically involves technical studies, regulatory reviews and getting public feedback. It is also common for projects to undergo multiple rounds of review before approval is granted, particularly when authorities require additional information or revisions to environmental safeguards.

These steps are already mandatory under Malaysian requirements.

Marfiah pointed out that in Malaysia, a WTE project cannot move beyond the drawing board without a detailed EIA. Apart from technical evaluations and regulatory reviews, public feedback and setting mitigation requirements are obligatory, she said.

It should also be noted that in Malaysia, developers of WTE plants must meet very stringent department of environment (DOE) emission standards. - FMT