Ipoh in Malaysia has become the first city in Asia to recycle 100 per cent of its solid waste using the so-called Thermowaste system. According to an article from the Ipoh Echo, the system is aimed at providing environmentally friendly, efficient, and pollution-free recycling. It emphasizes sustainable waste management to align with the principles of the circular economy. A Thermowaste plant is currently being constructed in Ipoh.
Thermowaste technology operates through a sterilization and cleaning process involving heat, steam, and pressure applied to solid waste, without the need for prior sorting. “After a 30-minute process, the solid waste is divided into four main components: biomass, plastic, metal, and inert materials,” explains Ipoh City Council (MBI) in a statement. These individual components can then be sold, allowing solid waste to be reused. For example, biomass can be sold as a fuel to replace charcoal in industry.
According to Thermowaste's website, a Thermowaste plant with five process lines prevents 1,200 tons of urban solid waste per day from being thrown into landfill. “That is approximately the waste generated in a city with 1 million inhabitants,” it writes.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between MBI, Thermowaste Mancuso Energy Sdn Bhd, and Selekta Spektra on 17 October 2023. According to the article, this commitment is “in line with MBI’s Strategic Plan for environmental sustainability”. ce/em
