The incinerator project in Taman Beringin, Kepong that would be completed by 2018 is a more effective waste management method in the long run.

Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Development Abdul Rahman Dahlan said the country can no longer depend solely on landfills for that purpose but has to use mix waste management methods in the future.

"Five years from now the landfill in Bukit Tagar (Hulu Selangor) will be part of a metropolitan. So do we want to wait until then?" he said during his visit at PPR Desa Tun Razak, Cheras today.

Despite pressure from certain groups to move the location of the project, Abdul Rahman (right) defended the project's proposed site in Taman Beringin as it would be more cost effective if the incinerator was build near the source of the waste.

He said his ministry would be distributing information regarding the project to the public soon, to educate them on the matter.

He also refuted claims by residents' association and non-governmental organisation, Kuala Lumpur Taknak Insinerator (KTI) that the Ministry had not consulted the residents over the matter.

"Either in my ministry or during the town hall meeting at their premises. We even sent them to Tokyo, Japan. They have been engaged many times.

"They are telling lies if they said otherwise," he said.

He assured the people that the incinerator project that would also be build in Bukit Payung, Johor and Sungai Udang, Malacca were for the benefit of the masses and not based on commercial consideration of the private sector.

The incinerator proposed to be build in Taman Beringin, is capable of burning approximately 1,000 tonnes of solid waste from the Klang Valley without releasing foul smell.

The construction of the incinerator would also help in the management of solid waste which was expected to reach up to 33,000 tonnes a day by 2020.

- Bernama