The government-sponsored advertisements promoting incinerators have irked the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) which argues that public funding should be used to raise awareness on waste reduction instead.

"CAP is appalled by the full-page advertisements in major dailies promoting incineration for water management and a quick and clean method to waste disposal," said its president SM Mohamed Idris in a statement today.

"We are concerned over the advertisements as incinerators are an unsustainable and obsolete method for dealing with waste," he added.

Mohamed Idris said instead of propagandising incinerators, the government should spend money to raising public awareness on waste reduction and implement laws that cater to the zero waste approach.

The two full-page advertisements are paid for by the Housing and Local Government Ministry and are published in all major dailies today.

The first, which is in black and white, says "illegal dumping contaminates water, pollutes environment, damages health" while the second, in colour, states: "World-class city world-class facilities".

The second advertisement also speaks of an "integrated waste management system to reduce reliance on landfills...(and) selected to be located in Broga, Selangor (and) uses the gasification and ash melting technology".

Dangerous solution

Mohamed Idris said that the government must realise the downfalls of using incinerators as they are not only expensive but also emit highly toxic chemical dioxins and toxic ash residue.

"The government should refrain from using and promoting incinerators as studies and experiences in other countries show that incineration is harmful to the health and the environment."

Mohamed Idris said although incinerator operators often claim that air emissions are under control, evidence indicate that this is not the case.

"First, for many pollutants such as dioxin, any additional emissions are unacceptable. Second, emissions monitoring is uneven and deeply flawed, so even current emission levels are not truly known.

"Third, the data that do exist indicate that incinerators are incapable of meeting even the current regulatory standards," he added.

As such, Mohamed Idris said, the claims in the advertisements that the thermal treatment plant will simultaneously reduce dioxin and cut exhaust gas volumes are misleading.

He added that incinerators are not the solution to solid waste problems in the country.

"Since other countries are moving towards the zero waste approach, Malaysia too should do the same," he stressed.

EIA disregarded

Mohamed Idris also expresses concern that the advertisements confirm that the proposed thermal treatment plant will be located in Broga even though the Environment Impact Assessment for the viability of the project in the area has not been released.

"By stating Broga in the advertisements, the government seems not to respect the EIA process which is yet to be exhibited for public review.

"Reference to this project indicates that the government is going to proceed with the project and is not considering the outcome of the EIA and the suitability of the site," he said.

Residents in Broga have vehemently opposed the project in their backyard, claiming environment and health concerns . They have also discovered that the Japanese-based contractor for the project, Ebara Corporation has a tainted track record in the incinerator business. The government said it was probing this matter.

The project, initially to be sited in Kampung Bohol, Puchong, was relocated to Broga following a huge public outcry, a signature campaign and a swift mood change among hundreds of thousands of residents, marked by open threats to vote for the opposition in the coming general election.

The EIA report, originally scheduled for completion in May by Perunding Utama Sdn Bhd, the government-appointed consultant, is only expected by the end of this month - the third postponement so far.

Concerns have also been raised on the funding of the multi-billion ringgit project and the government continues to be tight-lipped over this.