SANDAKAN: The Sg Sibuga landfill, which has plagued residents with foul odours and pollution for years, is undergoing rehabilitation through the Ignis 3R waste recovery system.
Spanning 10 acres, the site once received 500 tonnes of daily waste before operations shifted to a new location in 2023. Nearby residents in Bandar Sibuga Jaya, Taman Mawar and Taman Utama long endured the stench, while untreated leachate contaminated nearby rivers.
Deputy Chief Minister cum Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Joachim Gunsalam hailed the project as a crucial step in transforming the landfill into usable land.
“The waste will be converted into sellable by-products,” he said, adding that success could lead to similar projects in Papar and beyond.
Developed by Ignis Environment Initiatives, the Ignis 3R system processes waste without burning, turning decomposed materials into oil, carbon, and alternative fuels. Dr. Davina Markus, CEO of SG Ignis Sabah, spearheads the project, bringing the upgraded technology to Sabah for the first time.
Sandakan Municipal Council president Walter Kenson welcomed the rehabilitation, acknowledging the landfill had long been an environmental and administrative burden. – James Leong
