The Air Hitam sanitary landfill in Puchong, which was closed in 2006, has been turned into a recreational park and a gas-powered electricity generation plant has been built at the site.

The power plant produces electricity using methane gas which is a by-product of a sanitary landfill.

The park, operated by Worldwide Landfills Sdn Bhd (a subsidiary of Worldwide Holdings Bhd), was launched yesterday by Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as the rehabilitation process will end on Dec 31.

Worldwide Holdings chairman Datuk Mohd Arif Abd Rahman said they worked with Tenaga Nasional to produce electricity through the methane gas released at the landfill.

“The power generated by the plant is 2MW. The park has also received recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records as the first Electrical New Energy Power Plant which uses landfill gas,” he said, adding that the post closure maintenance and rehabilitation of the site cost RM21mil.

Arif said the park would feature recreational facilities like a jogging and walking path, a gazebo and playground for children.

The 40ha site went through a five-year rehabilitation process which started soon after the landfill was closed on Dec 31, 2006.

Khalid said the park would set the standard and be an example for other landfills in the rehabilitation process

“From this experience we can make plans on how rehabilitation can be done for the Jeram and Tanjung Duabelas landfills,” he said.

The plant is expected to provide about 15 years of electricity to about 2,000 households.