Food waste issues are causing a stink

What a waste: A basket of fruits and vegetables destined for the dumpsite. We discard 16,000 tonnes of food every day according to the National Solid Waste Management Department. Photo: Dr Theng Lee Chong

Malaysians love their food, yet they have no qualms about wasting it. Food waste makes up half of the 33,000 tonnes of solid waste generated every day, according to the National Solid Waste Management Department (JPSPN). Of the discarded food, some 10% to 15% – or over 2,000 tonnes – is still consumable.

A visit to a landfill would expose our wasteful habits. Waste management specialist Dr Theng Lee Chong can attest to that, having visited over 50 landfill sites in the past 15 years.