KUALA LUMPUR: The Housing and Local Government Ministry has launched the Circular Economy in Solid Waste Blueprint 2025 to 2035.
The move aims to shift Malaysia towards a circular economy to address waste management and sustainability issues.
Its minister, Nga Kor Ming, said today the shift to a circular economy was vital as the current global situation showed that many were still relying on the conventional and unsustainable linear economy.
"We need immediate and drastic action to shift towards a circular economy to address the 'Triple Planetary Crisis,' which includes pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change.
"As such the blueprint aims to provide direction and reference for all stakeholders in institutionalising the necessary transformation to advance the development of the circular economy.
"This blueprint will help accelerate the transition to a circular economy in solid waste management through a vision statement and strategic framework supported by five strategic pillars, 20 initiatives, action plans and timelines.
"The five pillars of the blueprint are governance and legislation, guidelines and procedures, digitalisation and technology, infrastructure and facilities and market creation.
"The blueprint also sets out a vision which states that by 2050, Malaysia aims to achieve circular economy transformation for solid waste management.
"That will maximise resource efficiency and minimise waste generation while promoting economic growth, social wellbeing and environmental sustainability."
Nga said this at the launch of the Circular Economy Conference 2024 here.
He said the vision would be realised through joint ventures or collaborations among government agencies, industries, associations, academia and society.
Nga added that other countries had developed policies and legislation relating to the circular economy and Malaysia should not be left behind.
"The European Union (EU) has adopted a policy framework, called the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) in 2020, for all member countries to reduce waste and promote resource efficiency.
"China has also introduced the Circular Economy Promotion Law in 2008 which focuses on industrial symbiosis, recycling and resource efficiency."
Nga said Japan, too, had enforced the Promotion of Sorted Collection and Recycling of Containers and Packaging Act as early as 1995 and the Sound Material-Cycle Society Act in 2000.
This has set the foundation for the initial implementation of the circular economy by emphasising the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and eco-city projects.
"Singapore has also passed the Resource Sustainability Act which targets e-waste, food and packaging waste."
Nga said that to empower the community of circular economy advocates in the country, the establishment of a National Circular Economy Association (NCEA) would be speeded up.
This will serve as a platform to coordinate, plan and drive circular economy initiatives more comprehensively in the country.
"It will work closely with the Circular Economy Council for Solid Waste at the national level and play a vital role in advancing the country's recycling and solid waste-based industries."
Nga said that Malaysians would benefit from the circular economy initiatives outlined in the blueprint, which could expand the service sector, thereby creating job opportunities and additional income.
"More job opportunities can be created in services such as repairing and refurbishing furniture and equipment, upcycling used fabrics into new products like bags and scarves, and producing organic compost from food waste.
"Through this blueprint, the government aims for the Malaysian circular economy to become a key economic driver by creating new markets for post-consumer products and generating more employment opportunities," he said.
Last September, Nga launched the National Circular Economy Council (NCEC) to manage solid waste as a high-impact initiative for the solid waste management sector that uses the whole-nation approach to unite all stakeholders and accelerate the transition of solid waste management from a linear economy to a holistic cyclical economy.