Waste separation rules to cover three sectors from August

PETALING JAYA: All industries, commercial organisations and institutions must separate their waste at source beginning next month or risk a fine.

Announcing this, Housing and Local Government Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Mentek said those in the informal sector, such as the neighbourhood recycling man, better known as "surat khabar lama" uncles, would also be required to register and legalise themselves.

"Previously, we did not focus on these three sectors – industries, commercial organisations and institutions.

"But recently, we have enforced a new regulation to enforce separation of source (for waste) within these sectors, which is going to be implemented next month, " he said.

By involving these sectors, Mohammad said the ministry believed that it could increase the rate of separation of waste at source in Malaysia.

Asked on whether those in the sectors would be fined if they failed to separate at source, Mentek said: "They will be fined subject to our regulation under the Act."

He made his comments after launching the Fifth Waste Management Association of Malaysia Annual Conference on Wednesday (July 31).

The enforcement will only be applicable to these sectors in the states which have already agreed to adopt the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 or Act 672.

They are Perlis, Kedah, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor and Pahang as well as the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

Under Act 672, there are provisions for a fine for households to separate their waste at source, although this has never been enforced.

The fine for the first offence is RM50 for a landed property and RM100 for premises like shoplots.

On the registration of the recyclers in the informal sector, Mohammad said this would help the ministry determine the volume of recyclable materials collected.