Our river systems, long archipelagic coastlines, weak environmental regulations and management, and sheer ignorance among the citizens on the amount of waste being disposed of are an issue that needs urgent attention and aid. The alarming state of waste management is a matter of concern and care for every Malaysian.

In 2021, research showed that six of the world’s top ten biggest contributors to oceanic plastic pollution were in the Southeast Asia region, with our very own Klang River holding second place at 1.33% of the world’s problem.

Malaysians generate an average of approximately 1.17 kg of waste per person per day. Based on a general household of five members, this would amount to 5.85 kg of waste per day per home. This is indeed alarming. However, this calculation is based on old data, and we are hoping that the latest data that SW Corp is currently doing a study on will provide us with a more accurate update.

About 40,000 tons of waste is generated in the country per day, equivalent to 14.6 million tons per year. Assuming the recycling rate is 33.17% as claimed by SW Corp, there is a remaining 66.83% (26,732 tons) of waste per day that is not being recycled. This remaining waste is either being disposed of at the landfill sites around the country; dumped into some other facilities, like the Waste To Energy (WTE) plant in Port Dickson, and some mini incinerators, or illegally dumped into the ocean, through our rivers.

In addition, despite having to rely on inaccurate data, we can assume that more than 25,000 tons of waste is being disposed of each day at landfill sites throughout the country. There are 137 official landfill sites in the country, and not all landfills have a weighbridge to provide a complete and comprehensive picture of the waste that gets buried in the landfills.

Our Daily Plastic Usage – how much is going to landfills
An estimation conducted by Dr. Theng Lee Chong alongside Malaysia Plastic Manufacturers Association (MPMA) and Malaysia Plastic Recyclers Association (MPRA) a few years ago, produced the 2019 statistics showing an annual consumption of 3.5 million tons of plastics, based on the resin consumption statistics, plastic product imports, etc. SW Corp also presented data that about 1.5 million tons of plastic waste were disposed into landfill sites. The question now lies in the remaining 2 million tons of plastic waste – perhaps we can only assume that this amount is disposed of into the ocean and landfills.

Programs Done to Educate Malaysians on Practising 3R
3R has been added to our school syllabus, thus education has been considered to be in place, but whether it is practised in our daily lives is another issue. Also, there are many sporadic campaigns on recycling, and recycling bins have been placed around shopping malls and places frequented by the public.

It has been over twenty years since these programs were launched and bins placed and talks on “awareness creation” being talked about. Citizens are most certainly aware of the urgency of cutting down on the generation of waste, but only being aware is not enough. The government cannot do this alone. The waste concessionaires should do this. Awareness is there but the attitude is absent. Many Malaysians still dispose of their waste improperly, such as littering, illegal dumping, and discarding trash in rivers, contributing only to the exacerbation of the problem.

Waste is a responsibility. It is not a monetary gain. If everyone is only monetarily focused, then waste materials of less value will be neglected. Generally, Malaysia still applies the carrot approach to 3R, i.e. voluntarism and incentives. This will not help in the long run, and it is probably time for everyone to shift from the carrot to cane, meaning from voluntary to mandatory.

Technology and Innovation -to be leveraged in order to improve Waste Management Practices in Malaysia.
The Waste Management Master Plan has covered all elements of waste management, with a comprehensive document that covers from womb to tomb. However, we are still lacking the political muscle to drive waste management in the best direction. As the waste management business is still seen as very primitive, indeed all it will take is proper enforcement and practice to make things better.

Economic and Social Implications of Poor Waste Management in Malaysia

• Daily practice of burying waste contaminates land that takes more than 25 years to rehabilitate for any development. If landfills keep expanding, this will only contribute to Global Warming, as there will be less condensation causing less rainfall.
• Land lots designated as landfills could be used for better things like football fields, futsal courts and several playgrounds for children and youth.
• The groundwater is polluted, thus affecting the land and/or soil conditions. This will in turn cause great issues to the food stream and agriculture industry.

Long-term Solutions suggested to Reduce Waste and Promote Sustainable Waste Management Practices in Malaysia

• Early education is vital whilst circular economy is vital. Waste must be separated at the source itself. Centralise waste management from state to federal level.
• Tighten waste disposal laws, making them stringent and punitive. Littering practice must be stopped at its source through effective laws, thus creating greater awareness and enough legal muscle to combat this ongoing issue.
• Waste Management will never see the light without proper waste separation centres, more transfer stations, and a concerted program for recycling through proper education programs. Waste to Energy (WTE) incinerators, and adequate and punitive laws to curb pollution and littering.
• ESG is not merely a conference topic or consultant lingo. It has to be implemented in every company, local authority and city hall, to ensure something effective is being done.
• Concessionaires should prioritise societal impact over profits, aiming to lead rather than follow in waste management. Companies in dire need of effective waste management solutions should strive to be proactive contributors to a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Malaysia’s prolonged discourse on waste management ethics and education, encapsulated by the 3R approach, must transition from mere words to decisive action. It’s time to wield the cane of enforcement, penalizing those who flout regulations. Every citizen, business, and entity in our society must comply with waste management rules to ensure a cleaner future.

Recycling must become a norm in every household, with waste segregation and recycling of recyclable materials becoming mandatory. Landfills must be phased out, and replaced by efficient incinerators. There should be no debate on their placement; they are indispensable, like AI in modern life, essential for a cleaner, brighter nation.

The Ministry of Housing and Local Government and local authorities have studied enough. It’s time for action, not more study tours. SW Corp must undergo a drastic transformation, engaging waste management experts as advisors. We must adopt a new, proactive approach to align with sustainable goals, unlike our neighbour Singapore, which has excelled in waste management. It’s time for Malaysia to graduate from kindergarten to a PhD in waste management.

(Ravindran Raman Kutty is an active social worker.)