KUALA LUMPUR: The government would need to spend RM20 million to clear major landfills in the country, said Nga Kor Ming.
The housing and local government minister said doing so would cost higher than setting up waste-to-energy (WTE) plants.
However, he said the ministry would continue looking at the most suitable model to balance cost, environmental sustainability and public health.
"On the WTE model, the cost is indeed higher, but based on our comparison with environmental sustainability, one landfill takes up tens of thousands of acres of land.
"The surrounding area of five to 10km cannot be developed because of the large-scale waste disposal site.
"We will adopt a technology with a proven track record before it is implemented and used in the country."
Nga said this in a reply to a supplementary question from Sim Tze Tzin (PH-Bayan Baru) in Dewan Rakyat today.
Sim had asked Nga to explain the use of WTE plants to manage waste, which had a higher operating cost compared to using landfill sites.
Nga said his ministry would continue raising public awareness to support the government's efforts to maintain environmental sustainability and ensure that there were no foul odours, leachate or methane gas escaping from landfills.
"It is also expensive to close a landfill, usually RM20 million has to be allocated and it requires a lot of government resources.
"Therefore, the ministry will look at the best model so the implementation is effective and is most beneficial to the country."
Meanwhile, Nga said his ministry was looking at modernising the country's solid waste management by setting up 18 WTE plants by 2040, capable of generating up to 600 megawatts of renewable energy.
He said the initiative aimed to achieve the targeted 70 per cent renewable energy capacity and reduce carbon emissions by 45 per cent, as outlined in the National Energy Transition Roadmap 2050.