What A Waste (Problem We Have!)

Macaranga's latest article - Floods, Rising Seas Make Dumps More Dangerous - highlights the escalating dangers posed by landfills, amidst the backdrop of climate change-induced floods, rising sea levels, and other environmental impacts, by focusing on Malaysia's waste management crisis. Landfills, once deemed a solution, now exacerbates environmental and health risks due to their vulnerability to climate-related disasters and inadequate waste management practices, and with only a fraction of Malaysia's landfills meeting sanitary standards, the proliferation of open dumpsites compounds these challenges. "Garbage juice" or leachate, heavy metal contamination, and the heightened risk of landfill fires underscore the urgent need for comprehensive waste management strategies. We discuss the research explained in the article, and examine the potential of Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plants as a solution, while also advocating for a shift towards sustainable lifestyles to address the root causes of waste generation. Can a paradigm shift in consumption patterns and waste management practices mitigate the escalating risks posed by landfills and foster a sustainable future? We discuss this and more with environmental journalist Ashley Leong, the author of the report, Wong Siew Lyn, the co-founder and editor of Macaranga, and Geetha P Kumaran, an Environmental and Waste Management Consultant.

Image Credit: Ashley Yeong, Macaranga