More to do: Malaysia currently produces 38,000 metric tonnes of waste daily, with the national recycling rate a mere 33.17% – still shy of the 40% target set for 2025.
Govt policies, public buy-in and strategic partnerships can lead the way
PETALING JAYA: While Malaysia aims to achieve a national recycling rate of 40% by 2025, the recycling performance of Malaysians is still low, standing at around 33.17% in 2022.
To boost recycling rates and make it a habit, the government cannot do it alone without the public adopting a change of attitude, said Federal Territories Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) director Ummi Kalthum Shuib.
She also believes that penalties should not be a panacea for making people take up recycling.
“Recycling is not owned by any party, it is a transformation that must be done by everyone for a healthier life, economy and well-being,” she said when asked about residents’ response towards recycling waste.
Recycling can improve the country’s environmental performance index (EPI), create a circular economy, reduce the tonnage of waste sent to the landfill and the need for landfills and other costly forms of disposal, Ummi said.Currently, the average daily waste generated by the country stands at 38,000 metric tonnes. Out of this, 2,200 metric tonnes are from Kuala Lumpur.
The solid waste separation at source (SAS) regulation was made mandatory in 2015.
Under it, residents of states that are subject to the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672) are required to separate their waste into recyclables and non-recyclables.
The states and federal territories subject to Act 672 are Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Pahang, Johor, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Perlis and Kedah.
“Residents of landed properties have to do SAS within their property’s compound, and the recyclable waste has to be put outside the green bins provided by the government on the recyclable and bulky waste collection day, which is once a week.
“Residents can check the schedule displayed at the signage near their area.
“As for residents of non-landed properties, the Joint Management Body (JMB) or Management Corporation (MC) has to ensure that all residents are recycling and send the items to the bin room, trash chamber or any designated location surrounding the area,” she said.
Alternatively, all residents can collect the recyclable items and bring them to any recycling outlets or programmes conducted by SWCorp Malaysia, said Ummi.
For SAS, items are categorised into plastics, paper and others such as glass and aluminium.
Ummi said items such as e-waste and used cooking oil can also be recycled, with Alam Flora Sdn Bhd – as one of the government contractors – collecting and sending the items to the licensed factory.
Ummi added that SAS must be done correctly, otherwise the value of recyclable items will be greatly reduced.
“Food waste and other residual waste – such as diapers and tissues – should not be mixed with the recyclable items,” she said, adding that there are also composting programmes to turn food waste into fertilisers and energy in selected areas such as schools, markets and private companies.
Besides the mandatory SAS initiative, she added, the Federal Territories SWCorp is also running signature programmes to boost recycling.
This includes the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) signed on April 7 to improve cleanliness and waste management at all mosques and surau in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, with the aim for the #ProjekPahala #KitarSemula recycling initiative to be implemented at 75% or 585 mosques and surau by 2026.
Apart from religious institutions, the Federal Territories SWCorp is also targeting 2,033 JMBs through its JMB #BeraniUbah programme to encourage recycling in stratified developments.
Out of the 294 JMBs visited so far, 150 were found to be compliant with Act 672 and 144 non-compliant.
To join the recycling initiatives, the public can contact the Federal Territories SWCorp at 03-2245 9292, e-mail wp@swcorp.my or visit its Facebook page at SWCorp Wilayah Persekutuan and Instagram @swcorp.wp.
