Malaysia has unveiled its Circular Economy Blueprint for Solid Waste 2025-2035, marking a significant shift towards sustainable waste management. This initiative, driven by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, aims to move away from the traditional linear “take-make-dispose” model and embrace a circular economy.

The blueprint prioritizes:

• Circular Economy Principles:
  • Focusing on reuse, recycling, and repurposing to minimize waste.
  • Promoting sustainable consumption and production.
  • Aiming to reduce the environmental impact of solid waste.
• Key Strategies:
  • Implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), holding manufacturers accountable for their product’s lifecycle.
  • Introducing a “Pay-As-You-Throw” system to incentivize waste reduction.
  • Pursuing “Zero-Waste-to-Landfill Certification” for industries.
  • Developing waste-to-energy facilities.
  • Strengthening governance and legislation.
  • Utilizing digitalization and technology to improve waste management.
  • Creating markets for recycled materials.

The goal is to create a closed-loop system where resources are kept in use for as long as possible. This approach not only reduces environmental harm but also aims to generate new economic opportunities.

The success of this blueprint relies on collaboration between government, industry, and the public. By adopting circular economy practices, Malaysia aims to achieve a more sustainable and resource-efficient future.

Credit: Information for this article was gathered from reporting by the New Straits Times (NST) ‘Ministry launches circular economy in solid waste management blueprint’:-Fuad Nizam