MPAJ’s anaerobic digester plant at Jalan Kolam Ayer Lama processes food waste into liquid fertiliser and biogas. — Filepic
Local council to add 10 pick-up locations following success of its anaerobic digester plant
OVER 100 tonnes of food waste have been diverted from landfills since an anaerobic digester (AD) plant was launched in Ampang Jaya, Selangor, more than two years ago.
This has saved Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) more than RM3,000 in waste management costs, between 2023 and August 2024.
The MPAJ AD plant at Jalan Kolam Ayer Lama processes food waste into liquid fertiliser and biogas to prevent excessive food waste ending up at landfills.
Following its success, the local council said it planned to expand the food waste collection points in the near future.
“Since the MPAJ AD plant started operations in July 2022, it has produced 89,520 litre liquid fertiliser and 31,400 cubic metres of biogas.
“The fertiliser, produced from food waste, is sold to the public and also given out for free to community gardens and schools,” MPAJ told StarMetro.
It added that some 150kg to 200kg of food waste were collected every day from restaurants, food courts and schools within the municipality.
Food waste is collected from Hospital KPJ, Ampang Puteri, Medan Selera Bunga Tanjung, Laman Selera MPAJ @ Ampang Jaya, Kompleks Muhibbah, Taman Nirwana, Restoran Nasi Kandar Pelita, Ampang Point, Restoran Awwal Maju, Ampang Point, SK Ampang, SMK Dato’ Ahmad Razali, Medan Selera Angsana Hilir and DPO International Sdn Bhd Melawati (food processing company).
From the current 10 locations, MPAJ said it would be expanding the collection service to another 10 food courts.
These will include Medan Selera Taman Melawati, Medan Selera Taman Desa Keramat, Bazar Jalan Jelatek, Medan Selera Bunga Tanjung and Medan Selera Pandan Indah.
The facility, officially launched in January 2023, is the first integrated AD plant using the Internet of Things (IoT) system in the country.
The AD plant was built concurrently with the nearby Laman Selera MPAJ @ Ampang Jaya at a cost of RM4.6mil with allocations from Housing and Local Government Ministry.
The plan for the building of the AD facility was not without controversy as it was criticised by residents and stakeholders regarding the suitability of the location.
The AD is now located in front of the 60-year-old Ampang/Ulu Kelang Hindu Cemetery.
In 2019, the AD project was proposed to be built at Jalan Mamanda 27, Ampang Jaya, but the location was changed following residents’ protest.
At the time, MPAJ defended the particular site as suitable for the plant because it was located near the Ampang Point commercial area where plenty of food waste was generated.
