KOTA KINABALU: The state government will take over the management of scheduled waste from the federal Department of Environment in January 2026, said state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew today (Aug 28).
Liew said the implementation would be conducted in phases.
"This move is in line with the devolution of power by the federal government to the Sabah government under the Malaysia Agreement 1963, with regards to the environment.
"This matter was agreed on during the state cabinet meeting on Aug 21, chaired by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
"In this regard, several actions have already been initiated by the Sabah Environment Protection Department."
These included:
ENVIRONMENT Protection Enactment 2002 and drafting subsidiary legislation related to scheduled waste;
PREPARING a scheduled waste management plan for the state;
DEVELOPING an online scheduled waste monitoring system; and,
BOOSTING the capacity of the state Environment Protection Department with support from the federal Department of Environment.