KUALA LUMPUR, (PNA/Bernama) –Thermal treatment technology or incinerators are safe and will not have an adverse effect on human health and nature, and it can actually help resolve related issues.
Secretary-general of the Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Ministry, Datuk Seri Arpah Abdul Razak said the use of a high-tech system for waste disposal able to handle the creation and release of toxic chemicals had proven to be effective in several countries such as Japan, Taiwan, Germany and Austria.
“Incinerators can produce renewable energy which can be applied, for example, to the direct generation of electricity source capable of reducing our dependence on fast-depleting natural resources.
“This should be explained to the people so that they can understand further about the incinerator,” she told Bernama at the seminar, “High-Impact Communication Skills in Confronting Media” at Wisma Bernama, here, Monday.
The one-day seminar jointly organized by Bernama and the ministry was attended by about 20 senior ministry officials to give exposure to the functions and role of the media.
Arpah was asked to comment on the incinerator project to be built in Taman Beringin, Kepong here that the local people are protesting against.
Meanwhile, director-general of the National Solid Waste Management Department, Datuk Dr Nadzri Yahaya said in a statement that incinerators reduced greenhouse gas emissions that caused climate change and global warming.
“Negative statements, particularly about health problems that may be encountered by residents near the facility is not accurate at all.
“For the record, the facility to be constructed by the government is very high-tech and equipped with adequate pollution-control equipment and a sophisticated air pollution control unit (APC), which will capture and treat the gases being released,” he explained.
He said the use of the latest technology incinerators in Japan, Taiwan, Germany and Austria had resulted in no further need for a buffer zone, even if built near hospitals, schools and community centers.
“In fact, the Department of Environment has specified that the incinerator to be built must comply with the conditions laid down by them, such as rate emissions (chemical) dioxins and furans at 0.1 ng TEQ/Nm3 and this standard is equivalent to the standards set by other developed countries,” he said.
Nadzri said most of the references used by the parties against a particular project to be presented to the public, were published in the 1990s or earlier, at which time the incinerator pollution-control technology was still relatively low.
“Most studies around the year 2000 and later show the impact of thermal treatment plant or incinerator on the environment and health of the public did not become an issue again because the latest technology was used,” he said.
The government also adopted the approach of developed countries that had built and adopted incineration as a method of solid waste disposal, involving the public before, during and after the construction process, he said.
“Public engagement such as dialogue with residents near the site and meet-the-people session in selected places have been implemented by the National Solid Waste Management Department in stages.
“However, the initial series held previously initiated the focus areas of the region closest to the proposed construction site.
“This briefing will be pursued as a whole to ensure consistent information can be communicated to the general public and residents, especially those close to the site,” he said.