Huge potential for Sarawak to tap into by-products sector

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Photo shows an aerial view of the SIP project in Bintulu. Harlow believed that with greater industrial development going on in the state especially at SIP in the future, there would be a large amount of scheduled waste to be generated.

Photo shows an aerial view of the SIP project in Bintulu. Harlow believed that with greater industrial development going on in the state especially at SIP in the future, there would be a large amount of scheduled waste to be generated.

KUCHING: Given the rise of industrial development throughout the country, Sarawak has the potential to process by-products or industrial waste into raw materials for the construction sector.

NEVEK Consulting Ltd’s managing director Dr Keven Harlow said there are vast potential for by-products to be turned into inputs such as cement, concrete and steel structure for the development of the construction industry in the state .

“There are many opportunities for Sarawak to use by-products for construction for example (in the construction of) the Pan Borneo Highway. By-products have a wide range of construction and industrial usage.

“It can also be proccessed into raw materials such as structures for repairs and maintenance works and by-products for the steel industry,” he said during the Industrial By-Products management and business opportunities conference held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here yesterday.

He explained that the overall aim of by-product management is to transform scheduled waste to local resource which can be used for industrial development.

Harlow believed that with greater industrial development going on in the state especially at the Samalaju Industrial Park (SIP) , there would be a large amount of scheduled waste to be generated.

For that, he urged industry players to add value to their waste disposal by either recycling them or turning them into by-products for the usage of other industries.

Subsequently, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Environment senior principal assistant director Zuraini Ahmad Tajudin said currently the management of scheduled waste in Malaysia has been implemented based on the ‘cradle to cradle’ principle, a concept of waste management to ensure materials can be reused or recovered at their highest possible value.

She said the approach of promoting the use of waste should be encouraged whenever possible as an alternative raw materials or alternative fuels to substitute raw materials, without compromising the quality of product and the risk exposure to human health and environment.

She observed that there had been rapid development of the industrial sector in Malaysia in the past few decades.

As a result of that, she explained that toxic and hazardous wastes termed as scheduled waste in Malaysia were generated and needs to be managed properly.

She also said Malaysia has embarked on the programme to control scheduled wastes especially from industries since 1989.

Earlier on, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Abdul Ghani during his opening speech said the state government is aware of the requirement for a proper and systematic management of the industrial waste or by-products generated by industries especially at SIP.

He added the state government is developing an integrated waste management system for the secure and safe management of waste generated at SIP.

“The integrated waste management system will provide one-stop services for the management of all wastes generated in SIP, either for disposal, recovery or reuse.

“That includes a Waste Managment Centre of international standard to be located in Maskat, Bintulu, about 30 km from Samalaju.

“This initiative by the state government is in line with our policy to protect the environment of SIP to be in tandem with its concept of becoming a modern and green industrial park.

“This will also ensure that the development of the park is sustainable and attractive to investors as well as to the community residing in the park,” he said.

He noted that although there were possibilities to turn waste into business opportunities, the state government will not compromise the safety of the waste products to the environment as well as to users.

Meanwhile, Sarawak’s Natural Resources and Environment Board controller Peter Sawal concurred with Harlow and Zuraini that with more industrial development at SIP, there is a need for scheduled waste to be propertly managed.

At the same time, he also stressed the need to convert waste in particular scheduled waste into by-products and the need to have an integrated waste management system to create a cleaner environment for a healthy living.

Among those present at the conference were Deputy State Secretary in charge of Social Economic Transformation Datu Ismawi Ismuni, Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda) chief executive officer Tan Sri Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot, Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd Group’s managing director Datuk Richard Curtis as well as delegates of the conference from Malaysia and overseas.