KUALA SELANGOR, February 16  – The state government through Worldwide Holdings Berhad (WHB) is assessing the best technology that can be used to manage solid waste in Selangor.

The Chairman for Permanent Committee on Islamic Affairs, Malay Customs, Infrastructure and Public Amenities, Dato’ Dr Hasan Mohamed Ali said the material recovery facility (MRF) technology and incinerators were among the alternatives that could be considered.

“There are those who say MRF can solve this problem from the aspect of finance and technology.

“As for incinerators, as we know Singapore is among the countries which as successfully used this method to overcome its solid waste management problems,” he said when met by reporters after a working visit to the Shah Alam Transfer Station (SATS) at Section 21 Shah Alam and the Sanitary Disposal Centre in Jeram, near here, today.

Also present during the visit was WHB Group General Manager, Norazlina Zakaria and Chief Manager of WHB Environment Division Zamri Abdul Rahman.

At the same time, he said the state government was also open to considering other technology that would help to overcome solid waste management problems more effectively and efficiently.

The 160 acre Jeram Sanitary Disposal Centre began operating in January 2007 after the Air Hitam Sanitary Disposal Centre in Puchong was closed down.

With a lifespan of 16 years, the Jeram Sanitary Disposal Centre is capable of holding 1,000 tonnes of solid waste daily from four local authorities (PBT), the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ), Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ), Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) and the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).

The disposal centre also is expected to receive solid waste  collected from SATS, the first transfer station of its kind in Selangor.

SATS, a project under the Ministry of Housing and Local Government which has not begun operating, was completed by WHB on 5 December of last year. – NOOR ALLIA KASSIM