When the Thermowaste system plant’s construction is fully completed, it will make Ipoh the first city in Asia to recycle 100% of its waste using eco-friendly technology.
Ipoh Mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin stated that this technology represents a new approach aimed at enhancing the value of all waste through a more efficient recycling method, aligning with the circular economy concept, according to Bernama.
He explained that the technology includes a sterilisation and cleaning process, applying heat, steam, and pressure to solid waste without prior separation.
After a 30-minute processing period, the solid waste can be separated into four distinct categories: biomass, plastic, metal, and inert materials.
These commodities will then be sold in the market, enabling the reuse of waste materials in various forms. For example, solid waste converted into biomass can serve as a fuel substitute for coal in industrial applications.
Rumaizi also emphasised that a sanitary landfill for solid waste disposal is not an ideal approach, as it requires a significant amount of land to bury trash, rendering the land unproductive.
Therefore, Thermowaste Mancuso Energy Sdn Bhd, Ipoh City Council (MBI), and Selekta Spektra have joined forces through a memorandum of understanding signed on 17 October 2023, to ensure the success of this project.
This collaboration aims to foster a cleaner environment and a brighter future, aligning with one of the core strategies outlined in MBI’s Strategic Plan for environmental sustainability.
