Solid Waste Management in Malaysia: An overview

Abstract

Malaysia is heavily dependent on landfilling as a method of waste disposal, and as a result, severe space constraints, health issues, and environmental issues will eventually affect the country. This essay aims to give a general overview of solid waste recycling in Malaysia at the level that affects a community or country the most, the family. In Malaysia, households are the main producers of municipal solid waste, with recyclable materials making up between 70 and 80 percent of the total waste found in landfills. To improve solid waste management from a recycling perspective, it is important to consider Malaysia's current household solid waste recycling policy and program status. Wastes are still dumped in open areas of land without any attempt at recovery or recycling, despite the high potential and opportunities for doing so. Malaysia's rate of 5% illustrates the rarity of this practice when compared to recycling rates in neighboring nations. The government is committed to greatly enhancing solid waste management services for all citizens, particularly waste minimization. Since wastes, separation, and recycling make up a sizable portion of the major changes in the current policy implementation, it is a good thing that the emphasis on recycling as a sustainable waste management strategy has undergone a paradigm shift. The question of whether the 2020 goals can be met is still up in the air, but there is a chance for a successful implementation of sustainable solid waste management. These issues and challenges in recycling practice were highlighted in this context.