AP Team Studies Malaysia’s Waste Management Success

VIJAYAWADA: With a view to adopting global best practices in urban governance, a high-level AP delegation is visiting Selangor in Malaysia to study advanced waste management systems, sustainable urban practices and waste-to-energy models.

The idea is to replicate these across the state’s growing urban centres.

The visit has been undertaken under the direction of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who has emphasised the need to transform AP cities into clean, healthy, environmentally sustainable and globally competitive urban centres.

The delegation comprises urban development minister Ponguru Narayana, principal secretary Suresh Kumar and Vivekanand Thangamuthu Selvaraj, first secretary for commerce and education at the Indian high commission in Kuala Lumpur.

The delegation met Selangor leaders Y.B. Ganabatirau and Y.B. Papparaidu to discuss sustainable urban management, municipal service delivery and opportunities for future knowledge exchange between Selangor and AP.

A highlight of the visit was an extensive presentation by KDEB Waste Management Sdn. Bhd., Selangor’s official solid waste management agency. Led by its MD, Dato Haji Ramli bin Mohd Tahir, the briefing covered the state’s integrated waste management ecosystem, including collection, transportation, processing, public cleansing, monitoring systems and community engagement initiatives.

The Andhra Pradesh team examined how Selangor has centralised and professionalised waste management through technology-enabled supervision, institutional accountability and coordinated service delivery. Officials noted that the model offers valuable lessons for improving sanitation standards, reducing landfill dependence and enhancing municipal efficiency across Andhra Pradesh.

The delegation also conducted field visits to operational facilities to observe waste movement systems, fleet management practices, monitoring protocols and coordination mechanisms between implementing agencies and local authorities. The visits underscored the importance of data-driven monitoring, standard operating procedures, professional manpower deployment and robust logistics networks.

Another key component of the two-day tour is the study of the waste-to-energy facility at the Jeram Sanitary Landfill operated by Worldwide Landfills. The team is assessing landfill management, resource recovery, leachate treatment, emission control and energy generation systems, which are considered critical for AP’s future waste-processing strategy.

The delegation is also visiting specialised facilities handling bio-medical, industrial-medical and poultry waste to understand safe treatment, disposal and environmental compliance mechanisms.

Officials believe these insights will help strengthen coordination among municipalities, healthcare institutions, industries and pollution-control agencies.

Minister Narayana said the government remains committed to building clean, green and healthy cities, adding that the lessons from Malaysia would be carefully evaluated and adapted to local requirements. Suresh Kumar noted that the visit had provided practical exposure to integrated waste management, scientific landfill operations and technology-driven service delivery, paving the way for future collaboration and capacity-building initiatives.