Selangor is exploring the development of a third waste-to-energy (WTE) plant alongside new green energy projects, which may be included in the 2026 state budget to be tabled in November.
State executive councillor for local government and tourism Dato’ Ng Suee Lim said the initiatives would complement the two WTE plants under construction in Jeram and Rawang, which will have a combined capacity to process up to 5,000 tonnes of waste daily.
Investment in high-tech solutions is urgent as Selangor cannot rely on landfills indefinitely amid rising waste volumes and escalating costs. “Compared to other contractors, our waste management contract payments are the lowest. This creates a heavy burden in covering investments.
“We just want the public to know that the assessment we collect is not enough. Of course, WTE plants require higher upfront costs, but they are necessary for sustainable development, environmental protection, and the future of the people,” he told Media Selangor.
Ng added that waste management expenditures currently eat up about 30 per cent of the local authorities’ budgets, warning that this could rise to 60 per cent if old methods persist, ultimately limiting councils’ ability to deliver quality services.
With KDEB Waste Management Sdn Bhd (KDEBWM) spending between RM7 and RM8 per tonne on services valued closer to RM15, he said it has been difficult to fund investments such as providing standardised bins for every household.
KDEBWM’s daily collections have surged from 6,500 tonnes in 2016 to over 10,000 tonnes this year, and are projected to reach 10,800 tonnes by 2027.
Ng confirmed that Selangor is also moving to adopt the Federal government’s Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act 2007 (Act 672) to align with national standards. Doing so would help resolve the rising cost of waste management, including WTE projects, as Federal funding levels are higher.
“Once we adopt Act 672, enforcement will also be stronger. Right now, penalties are low, but under the Act, fines can go up to RM100,000, giving stronger enforcement powers.”
