Govt to gradually introduce mandatory waste separation from Sept 2015

SERDANG: The Government will implement the mandatory separation of waste at source in stages from September next year, says Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

The Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Minister said the National Solid Waste Management Department (JPSPN) had drawn up the regulations and guidelines on its implementation method.

The implementation of the new rule had been formulated under the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007, said Abdul Rahman at a 2014 Recycle Day celebration under the theme 'Recycling Is The Responsibility Of All' at Taman Tasik Seri Serdang, Saturday.

"Generally, the process of separating waste at source involved the separation of household solid wastes according to the composition of waste such as plastic, paper, cardboard, glass, metal, food waste, bulk waste and farm waste.

"The collection of separated wastes will be implemented according to the schedule fixed by the appointed concession company. This will be done under the 2+1 collection concept," he said.

His speech was read out by the Ministry's secretary-general, Datuk Seri Arpah Abdul Razak.

Abdul Rahman said the implementation of the 2+1 collection had been fully implemented in states which had adopted the Act, namely, the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Pahang, Johor, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Perlis and Kedah from September this year.

He said the Government would ensure the solid waste management facilities were improved and the operation of 3R centres (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) at the community level was mobilised.

"The success of this programme is also dependent on the readiness and understanding of the people on the importance of the programme on separation of waste at source," he said, adding that JPSPN would implement awareness campaigns and educational programmes to maximise its success and minimise public uneasiness.

The latest statistics indicated that Malaysians produced 33,000 tonnes of solid waste a year, and of the total, only 10.5% had been recycled into value-added products. - Bernama