BINTULU, Sept 11: Sarawak is developing a comprehensive Waste Management Master Plan, slated for completion by the end of 2025, which will serve as the State's strategic framework for waste management through to 2050.
Sarawak is implementing a comprehensive waste management master plan to strengthen its systems and reduce reliance on traditional landfills. A key component involves building two waste-to-energy (WtE) plants by 2026 to convert solid waste into power. The initiative also includes a pilot project in Lubok Antu that transforms oil palm kernel waste into useful products like biomass, animal feed, and biofuel.
The plan is a cornerstone of the state's circular economy goals and its Post-Covid Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030. Efforts will focus on reducing waste at the source, promoting reuse and recycling, and enhancing solid waste management to minimise environmental impact. The government is also exploring innovative methods like hydrogen production from livestock waste to further expand green technologies.
Deputy Minister Datuk Len Talif Salleh stressed that the plan's success hinges on public participation, particularly in waste separation at source and cultivating a culture of recycling. He emphasised that government policy alone is not enough and requires the commitment of all stakeholders, including industries and communities. This collective action is also the goal of the Sarawak Premier Environmental Award (PSEA), which aims to inspire shared responsibility for environmental protection.
