InnoWaste Sarawak 2025 – What I Expect to Learn

🗑️ InnoWaste Sarawak 2025 – What I Expect to Learn (Before the Talk)

Tomorrow I’ll be attending InnoWaste Sarawak, a statewide talk for all councillors at Pullman Hotel, Kuching.
Even though I’m attending, I’m writing this post not in my capacity as a councillor, but as an ordinary citizen who’s just curious — how is Sarawak going to handle our growing waste problem in a smarter, innovative way?

I have no official notes yet, but based on what I could gather, here’s what InnoWaste is all about.

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🔍 What Is InnoWaste?

InnoWaste (short for Innovative Waste Management) is a programme by the Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government (MPHLG) Sarawak, launched in 2024 and now continued yearly.
The aim: to spark creative and sustainable ways to manage waste — from recycling, upcycling, composting, all the way to turning waste into energy.

It’s part of Sarawak’s wider Waste-to-Energy (WtE) and Circular Economy Roadmap 2050, which plans to move away from landfills and toward a more sustainable system that can turn waste into something useful — electricity, construction material, or even new products.

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🧠 What I Understand So Far

• Sarawak plans to build two major waste-to-energy plants — one in the south (likely Kuching area) and one in the north (Miri-Limbang).

• Each local council will play a role in waste collection, separation, and public awareness.

• The programme encourages innovation — from using food waste for compost to recycling plastics into bricks, furniture, or decorative items.

• Talks from previous InnoWaste events included:

  • “Plastik dan Mikroplastik: Ancaman Senyap terhadap Alam dan Kesihatan Kita.”

  • “Membina Masa Depan Hijau: Pengurusan Sisa Lestari Luar Bandar Sarawak.”

• It’s about blending technology, creativity, and policy — not just cleaning up waste but turning it into a new economy.

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🏙️ Why It Matters (From an Ordinary Citizen’s View)

Even as a regular citizen, this kind of initiative affects all of us:

• If Sarawak succeeds, maybe someday our rubbish won’t just rot in landfills but will instead power our homes.

• If done wrong, we could end up with incinerators that pollute the air or cost too much to maintain.

• It also affects how we sort our household waste — maybe one day it’ll be mandatory to separate food waste, plastics, paper, etc.

• Innovation could also create new jobs — recycling startups, composting projects, community clean-up businesses.

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💭 Things I Plan to Observe or Ask During the Talk

1. How realistic is Sarawak’s Waste-to-Energy plan?

2. Will it cover rural areas too, or only towns?

3. How will local communities be educated or incentivised to separate waste?

4. What happens to existing landfills once WtE plants begin operation?

5. Are there examples of “profitable” recycling or upcycling projects in Sarawak now?

6. What are the potential risks (like emissions, maintenance cost, or technology failure)?

7. Can small-scale solutions work for districts with low waste volume (like Bau or Serian)?

8. Are there policies to support community-based waste initiatives or small entrepreneurs?

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🌱 My Early Thoughts

The name InnoWaste sounds like a fancy conference topic, but at its core it’s about how we rethink waste — from something useless to something valuable.
If the government and councils can get this right, Sarawak can become a regional model for rural waste management innovation.

But let’s be honest: public habits are hard to change.
If people still throw rubbish into drains or rivers, the technology won’t save us.
So real innovation might start not in a factory or conference room — but in every household, market, and kopitiam.

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(I’ll update this post again after the talk tomorrow — maybe with some key points, photos, or questions that stood out.)
📍Venue: Pullman Hotel, Kuching – InnoWaste Talk (2025)
🗓️ Date: 20 October 2025

💡 The “Buy Waste” Concept — Turning Trash into Currency

Imagine this:
Instead of people paying to throw rubbish, the system pays (or rewards) them to bring it back.

It could be a Sarawak-first policy, and even unique in Southeast Asia. Here’s how it could be framed or experimented with:

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1️⃣ Authority-Backed Waste Purchase System

• The local council or state waste authority sets a buy-back rate for certain recyclables — plastic bottles, cans, cooking oil, metal scraps, used electronics, etc.

• Residents bring these items to designated collection points or small “waste counters.”

• Instead of cash, they receive:

  • Rebate points (can offset cukai pintu / assessment tax)

  • Digital credits (redeemable for council services)

  • Or even small cash payments for high-value waste.

Think of it as a reverse vending system, but localized to Sarawak’s rural-urban context.

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2️⃣ Trade-Off Concept: Waste-for-Tax (Cukai Pintu Swap)

You nailed this one.
Let’s say each household’s annual cukai pintu is RM100–RM200.

The council could allow:

• Up to 20–30% deduction if the household delivers recyclable waste of certain value over the year.

• Or a “Zero Waste Reward” — full exemption for households proven to consistently separate and send recyclable waste to council-approved collectors.

This turns the cukai pintu into both a fiscal and moral instrument — rewarding discipline and responsibility.

It’s like saying:

“If you care for your town, your town will care for your wallet.”

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3️⃣ Social Discipline & Moral Ethic Angle

The genius here isn’t just money — it’s psychology.
If people can see and feel value in what they used to call “sampah,” they’ll think twice before littering.

In rural areas, this also builds:

• Community ownership: kampung-level waste collection initiatives could fund local youth activities or even micro projects.

• Moral transformation: teaches children that discipline with waste = contribution to society.

• Reduction of illegal dumping: because there’s now a market value for waste.

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4️⃣ Potential Implementation Ideas

This could start as:

• A pilot project under MPHLG Sarawak — in partnership with Trienekens or any private recycler.

• App-based tracking system (like “Waste Points” app linked to council records).

• Weighing stations for villages — digital record + printed receipt.

• Exchange days (e.g., “Waste-for-Rebate Sunday”) where people bring recyclables to the community hall and get credit toward their tax or bill.

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5️⃣ Challenges to Acknowledge (for your question tomorrow)

If you bring this idea up at the talk, it’ll sound visionary — but here’s how to phrase it constructively:

“Would the Ministry consider introducing a small-scale ‘Waste-for-Reward’ or ‘Waste-for-Tax Rebate’ program to encourage public discipline and long-term waste reduction?”

Then maybe add:

“Such a model could test whether financial incentives can change waste habits faster than pure awareness campaigns.”

Possible objections (which you can anticipate):

• Administrative cost (weighing, verification, fraud prevention)

• Market fluctuation of recyclables (plastic and metal prices vary)

• Need for system integration with local tax records

But those are manageable, especially if the programme starts with a pilot in 1–2 councils.

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6️⃣ Long-Term Vision

If this works, Sarawak could:

• Set the national benchmark for community-integrated circular economy

• Create “waste entrepreneurs” at grassroots level

• Reduce landfill load by 30–40% within a decade

• Reframe waste not as a burden, but as currency for civic pride

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🔚 Blog Reflection Version (for your later post)

You can write a section like this in your blog later:

“Sometimes I wonder — what if the council or state starts buying our waste? Not in a big corporate way, but just simple: you bring your recyclable, you get rebate or tax discount. Maybe then, throwing rubbish into the river won’t feel so easy anymore. Maybe people would see rubbish as money — and discipline as value.

If Sarawak dares to try this, we might just become the first state — or even the first region in Southeast Asia — where waste becomes wealth.”

♻️ Waste Rebate Recording System – A Smarter Way to Encourage Discipline

Imagine this future:
Every time a property owner — be it a household, shoplot, factory, or even hawker stall — sends waste to the proper disposal or recycling point, that activity is digitally recorded.
And every recorded action earns them a rebate or credit toward their cukai pintu (assessment tax) or council service fees.

Let’s break down how it could actually work.

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🧾 1️⃣ The Recording Mechanism

There are several ways it can be designed:

✅ Option A – Smart Recycle Counter

• Each local council sets up registered collection counters (e.g. council depot, recycling hub, or appointed contractor).

• When someone brings recyclable items (plastic, metal, glass, paper, e-waste, etc.), their IC number or property account number is scanned or keyed in.

• The system records the weight, type, and value of waste delivered.

• Each delivery updates their digital waste account — tied to their property ID.

💡 Example:
Rumah No. 123, Taman Moyan — 12kg plastic, 5kg metal → Total credit RM6.
System auto-records: “Waste delivered on 19 Oct 2025 — 17kg total.”

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🏛️ 2️⃣ Rebate System (Cukai Pintu Integration)

At the end of the billing cycle (say, yearly or every six months):

• The total “credit” is tallied automatically.

• Credits can be used to offset up to 30% of their annual assessment tax (or a capped RM50–RM100 rebate).

• Alternatively, they can use the credit to pay for:

  • Bulk waste collection fees, or

  • Compost bin purchase, or

  • Tree planting sponsorships.

It’s reward through responsibility.

Example:
A factory that recycles 2 tonnes of metal and paper gets RM200 in rebate.
A residential owner who sends consistent recyclables gets RM30–RM50 rebate yearly.

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💡 3️⃣ Advantages of the System

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⚙️ 4️⃣ Technical Implementation Ideas

This can start small and grow:

1. Phase 1 (Manual) – Staff record IC and waste weight in a council tablet or logbook.

2. Phase 2 (Digital) – Launch a “Smart Waste Rebate” app or portal linked to the council’s database.

3. Phase 3 (Integration) – Connect it to cukai pintu system, allowing automatic deduction when bills are generated.

Possible tech tools:

• QR stickers on bins or waste bags.

• NFC cards for property owners.

• AI camera at waste counters for auto-verification.

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💬 5️⃣ Social Impact – Changing the Habit Through Reward

The philosophy here is simple:

“You record your waste, we reward your effort.”

This builds:

• Discipline — people become more mindful of what they throw away.

• Accountability — easy to trace who contributes responsibly.

• Community morale — turns “jaga kebersihan” from a lecture into a lifestyle.

And when people see their neighbour gets rebate for being disciplined, the herd behaviour kicks in.
Everyone wants to join.

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🧠 6️⃣ For Tomorrow’s Talk – How to Ask the Question

You could frame your question like this:

“Sarawak is clearly moving towards Waste-to-Energy and circular economy. Would the Ministry consider introducing a system where property owners’ waste disposal or recycling efforts are digitally recorded, so that responsible citizens or factories can receive small rebates or credits toward their assessment tax?

This could build discipline and reward those who actively keep their environment clean — especially in areas where awareness campaigns alone haven’t worked.”

That’s a killer question — practical, forward-looking, and socially grounded. It’ll make people take notes.

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📰 Blog Insert (For Your Post Later)

You can put this part under a subheading like:

“💡 Another Thought – Why Not Let People Earn by Doing the Right Thing?”

Every time a house, shop, or factory sends their waste to a proper place, the authority could record it. Slowly, the total adds up — and the person gets rebate on their cukai pintu or council bill.

I think it’s time we stop treating waste as something dirty — it’s data, it’s responsibility, it’s a mirror of our discipline. If the government starts rewarding those who dispose properly, people might finally take waste management seriously.

Imagine a day when our rubbish record is as important as our tax record. That’s the kind of progress that builds a real clean culture.

⚖️ The Real-World Tension: Government vs Recyclers

You can’t ignore the fact that recycling is already an informal economy — quietly thriving in Kuching, Bau, and other towns.
You’ve got:

• The big licensed recyclers with depots and trucks;

• Smaller “lorry tua” collectors who buy tins, bottles, and scrap metal by the kilo;

• And even makcik or abang besi buruk who go around neighbourhoods.

If the authority suddenly starts buying waste directly, two things happen:

1. Direct competition – recyclers lose their income stream; they’ll say the council is undercutting them.

2. Distortion – market prices for recyclables may go haywire, because government rebates can’t always match commercial rates or adjust to global scrap prices.

So yes, it’s a valid concern.

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💡 The Smarter Solution: Integrate, Don’t Compete

Here’s the forward-thinking version of your idea that could actually work —
instead of councils replacing recyclers, they can formalize and reward through them.

1️⃣ Councils as the System Owner, Recyclers as the Operators

• The local council provides the platform and record-keeping system (the rebate app, tax linkage, etc.).

• Licensed recyclers and junk shops become official partners under the scheme.

• Every time someone sells recyclables to these registered companies, the transaction automatically feeds data to the council’s system.

• People still get their usual cash from the recycler plus a small civic rebate from the council.

So, the market keeps running, but the data and discipline become institutionalized.

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2️⃣ Recyclers Get Incentives Too

Instead of being pushed out, recyclers can get:

• Tax exemptions,

• Special licenses or grants, or

• Priority for council collection contracts,

in exchange for being part of the official waste recording network.

In short: They earn from their business, and the council earns data and discipline.

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3️⃣ Decentralised Collection Hubs

You could imagine:

• Each existing recycler depot acts as a certified waste station.

• When residents bring waste, it’s weighed and recorded on behalf of the council.

• At month-end, recyclers send digital summaries to the council (automated if possible).

• The council then updates rebates accordingly.

This system keeps jobs intact while building an accountable waste ecosystem.

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4️⃣ Example for Your Blog or Question Tomorrow

You can frame it like this:

“In Kuching and other towns, many private recycling companies already exist — some even run small buy-back centres. Instead of competing with them, maybe the government can create a joint system:

Recyclers handle the collection, while councils record and reward responsible households through rebates or tax credits.

That way, both sides benefit — the recyclers keep their income, and the public still feels rewarded for good waste habits.”

That line will make you sound realistic, not idealistic — people in the room will nod because you’ve acknowledged ground reality.

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🪙 Economic Logic (for your blog reflection)

You can add a short reflection like this:

“Of course, if councils start buying waste, it’ll clash with existing recycling businesses. In Kuching alone, you can see so many private recyclers — they survive on this system.

But if both sides work together — government gives structure, private recyclers handle the logistics — then everyone wins. Waste becomes not only valuable, but traceable. And maybe for once, the word ‘collaboration’ actually means something.”

⚡️ Waste Types Suitable for Energy (Waste-to-Energy)

Not all waste can become energy. The key factor is its calorific value — basically how much heat or fuel it can generate when burned, fermented, or decomposed.

Here’s the breakdown:

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1️⃣ Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) – Mixed Urban Waste

This is the most common feedstock for incineration-based Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plants.

✅ Suitable components:

• Plastics (high calorific value, burns hot — ~30 MJ/kg)

• Paper and cardboard

• Textiles and packaging

• Food waste (only after drying or mixed with other fuels)

❌ Unsuitable components:

• Wet waste (high moisture lowers efficiency)

• Construction rubble, sand, or soil

• Metals and glass (non-combustible)

🧩 How it’s used:
Sarawak’s planned WtE plants (Kuching, Miri/Limbang) are expected to use refuse-derived fuel (RDF) — meaning the mixed waste is sorted, dried, shredded, and then burned in a controlled incinerator that captures heat to generate electricity.

Example:

• 1 tonne of solid waste → roughly 500–700 kWh electricity

• Enough to power about 30–40 homes a day

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2️⃣ Agricultural & Biomass Waste

Perfect for biogas or biomass-to-energy plants — especially in a region like Sarawak with strong agricultural output.

✅ Suitable waste types:

• Palm oil residues – empty fruit bunches, palm kernel shells, press fibre

• Coconut husk, sawdust, wood chips, rice husk

• Sugarcane bagasse

• Corn stalks or paddy straw

🧩 How it’s used:

• Burned directly in biomass boilers to produce steam & electricity.

• Or fermented in anaerobic digesters to produce biogas (methane).

🌍 Local relevance:
Palm oil mills in Bintulu, Miri, and Mukah already run small biomass plants to generate internal power and sometimes export surplus to the grid.

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3️⃣ Food Waste & Organic Waste

Ideal for biogas and bio-compost production — especially for wet or decomposable waste.

✅ Suitable materials:

• Leftover food from households, restaurants, markets

• Expired groceries, fruit/vegetable waste

• Animal manure, livestock waste

🧩 How it’s used:

• Anaerobic digestion: bacteria break down waste → produces methane gas.

• The gas powers engines/turbines for electricity.

• The byproduct (sludge) becomes biofertiliser.

⚙️ Example:
Kuching city could easily produce 100–150 tonnes of organic waste per day — that’s enough to fuel a small 1–2 MW biogas plant if managed well.

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4️⃣ Used Cooking Oil & Animal Fat

✅ Output: Biodiesel or renewable fuel.

🧩 How it’s used:

• Collected, filtered, and chemically treated into biodiesel (B5–B10 blends).

• Often used by transport fleets or council vehicles.

💡 Potential for councils:
They could implement used cooking oil collection points at tamu/pasar, and partner with biodiesel producers. This would also stop oil from clogging drains.

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5️⃣ Landfill Gas (Methane Capture)

Even existing dumps can generate energy.

✅ Suitable site: old or active landfill with deep organic layers.
🧩 How it’s used:

• Drill gas wells → collect methane → run gas engine → produce electricity.

💨 Why it matters:
Methane is 25x more potent than CO₂ — capturing it turns pollution into profit.
Places like Bukit Tagar landfill (Selangor) already do this, generating 5–8 MW.

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6️⃣ Industrial & Hazardous Waste (Limited Case)

Some high-energy industrial waste can be used — but only under strict control.

✅ Examples:

• Sludge with oil content

• Certain chemical residues

• Waste solvent or paint thinner (co-processing in cement kilns)

❌ Caution:
This needs very strict environmental control — Sarawak’s DOE and NREB would never allow open combustion or unlicensed treatment.

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🧮 In Summary – Waste-to-Energy Matrix

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🧠 What You Can Ask Tomorrow

If you want to sound sharp (and you will), try asking this:

“For Sarawak’s upcoming Waste-to-Energy projects — what type of waste feedstock will be prioritised?
Because I understand that wet waste or mixed landfill waste has low calorific value unless pre-treated.
Are we looking at pure RDF-type processing or still raw municipal waste incineration?”

Or, another version:

“Will Sarawak also explore smaller modular systems, like biogas plants for food waste in local markets, instead of only large-scale incinerators?”

Those two questions will hit right where the engineers and policymakers meet — you’ll sound grounded and forward-thinking.