INSTITUTIONALISING SOLID

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN
MALAYSIA

Abdul Nasir bin Abdul Aziz

Department of National Solid Waste Management
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
MALAYSIA
abdulnasir@kpkt.gov.my

6 December 2007
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 CONTENT

Background

National Solid Waste Management
Policy

National Strategic Plan

Important Milestone

Solid Waste and Public Cleansing
Management Act (SWPCMA) 2007

Institutions - Establishment Of
Department and Corporation
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 BACKGROUND

Solid waste management in Malaysia is governed

under Concurrent list of the 9th Schedule of the
Federal Constitution;

Under this list public health and sanitation can be

carried out by the Federal Government, State and
also the Local Authorities;

In practice, the Local Authorities have been carried

out the activities pertaining to the management of
solid waste which includes collection,
transportation, treatment and disposal.
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 BACKGROUND

Solid waste generated in 2002 was 17,000 tones per

day in Peninsular Malaysia;

Generation of solid waste expected to reach 30,000

tones per day in 2020; and

It is estimated about 45% of the waste is made up of

food waste, 24% of plastic, 7% is paper, 6% of iron
and glass and others made of the rest.

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 BACKGROUND

261 landfill sites all over the country as at April 2007

About 111 of these sites are closed

150 still operating (10 is sanitary landfill)

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BACKGROUND

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BACKGROUND

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 NATIONAL POLICY FOR SOLID
WASTE MANAGEMENT

AIM:

To establish a comprehensive, integrated, cost-

effective, sustainable and socially acceptable of
SWM;

To implement SWM based on waste management

hierarchy that give priority to waste reduction
through 3R, intermediate treatment and final
disposal

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NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN FOR
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

AIM:

To provide a strategic framework related to the

overall management of solid waste in Malaysia;
and

To recommend an effective management plan,

which identifies the roles of each of the
stakeholders, and actions that are required to be
taken to meet the objectives of the National
Development Plan
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 IMPORTANT MILESTONE
July 2007

Government decided to implement a full privatization
of solid waste management (southern and central
region); Northern - interim for a year

Concession companies- collection and

transportation of solid waste

Treatment and disposal – open to other players as

well as concession companies

Establishment of the Solid Waste and Public

Cleansing Management Act 2007, Department of
National Solid Waste Management and Corporation
of Solid Waste Management
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IMPORTANT MILESTONE
July 2007

Northern Region

Central and Eastern Region

Southern Region

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 SOLID WASTE AND PUBLIC
CLEANSING MANAGEMENT
ACT 2007

Aim: To provide for and regulate the management of controlled solid
waste and public cleansing for the purpose of maintaining proper
sanitation and for matters incidental thereto

Application: Peninsular Malaysia, Federal Territories of Putrajaya and

Labuan

Definition of Solid Waste:

- any scrap material or other unwanted surplus substance or
rejected products arising from the application of any process;

- any substance required to be disposed of as being broken,

worn out, contaminated or otherwise spoiled; or

- any other material that is required by the authority to be

disposed of 12
 SOLID WASTE AND PUBLIC
CLEANSING MANAGEMENT
ACT 2007

Categories of Waste Included in SWPCMA :
“Controlled Solid Waste”
 Commercial
 Construction
 Household
 Industrial
 Institutional
 Imported
 Public
 Prescribed from time to time
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 SOLID WASTE AND PUBLIC
CLEANSING MANAGEMENT
ACT 2007

SWM services: separation, storage, collection, transportation,
transfer, processing, recycling, treatment and disposal of
controlled solid waste

Provides the function and authority to the Director

General (at Departmental level)
- propose policies, plans, strategies on SWM
- setting up standards, specification and guidelines
- monitoring
- giving approval for construction, alteration or closure
of SWM facilities and license to undertake any aspect of
SWM services

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 SOLID WASTE AND PUBLIC
CLEANSING MANAGEMENT
ACT 2007

Control of solid waste generators and persons in

possession of controlled solid waste:
- Waste to be separated, handled and stored

Reduction and recovery of controlled solid waste:

- Prescribed recycling and separation of
recyclables
- Take back system and deposit refund system

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 SOLID WASTE AND PUBLIC
CLEANSING MANAGEMENT
ACT 2007

General Regulations 108(2):

 Types and standards of facilities
 Types and standards of vehicles & equipment
 Mode, manner & method of operation
 Sorting, recycling & special treatment
 Certificates
 Content of approvals and licensing
 Reporting

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 INSTITUTIONS - ESTABLISHMENT
OF DEPARTMENT AND
CORPORATION
Functions of Department:

Formulating policies, plans and strategies

Setting up regulations, specifications, standards and
code of practices

Granting licenses and approvals

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 INSTITUTIONS - ESTABLISHMENT
OF DEPARTMENT AND
CORPORATION
Functions of Corporation:

Recommend to DG on strategies and plans, standard
and specifications

Implement decided strategies and plans

Implement and enforce SWMPC laws

Monitor compliance of service providers

Public participation

Efforts to improve efficiency in sector

Promote research and establish institutions

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