Solid Waste Separation at Source among Households for Sustainable Solid Waste Management: The Application of the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007

Abstract

Worldwide solid waste generation has increased significantly. Source separation and recycling are important elements in solid waste management as both offer sustainable and effective solutions to the mounting waste issue. Beginning 1 September 2015, Perlis, Kedah, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, Johor, and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya mandated the separation of solid waste at source or from households as provided under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672). Nevertheless, issues such as the increase in the population, poor enforcement, and lack of proper infrastructure might hinder the successful implementation of the programme. This paper studies provisions on the separation of solid waste at source among households under the act and related challenges. The method used is library research and interviews. The findings of this paper is that the enforcement of mandatory separation of solid waste at source among households is a promising move towards enhancing sustainable solid waste management in Malaysia but there is space for improvement in order to ensure its successful implementation.