Burning issue
Waste incineration is costly but could soon become essential in Asean. New technology that reduces pollution while also generating energy could be the answer.
- Published: 21 Jan 2013 at 14.05
- Newspaper section: Asia focus
Southeast Asia has a mounting waste problem but the idea of using incinerators to deal with it has met with string resistance because of concerns about pollution from toxins and fly ash.
However, new incineration technology makes it possible to treat municipal and hazardous waste with minimal pollution while generating renewable energy at the same time.
Rapid urbanisation is already straining the capacity of Asean cities and countries to deal with waste. Bangkok, for example, produces 8,700 tonnes of waste per day. The most popular and easiest solution is to dump waste into a landfill and bury it. It is not a solution for hazardous wastes, although regrettably such disposal is common in Thailand because companies refuse to pay for proper treatment.
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