A comprehensive action plan for solid waste management and cleaning of public areas for 2015 until 2020, was launched today by Urban Welbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan.
Intended as the foundation of solid waste management facilities in the country, it is a continuation of the strategic plan which was launched in June.
Abdul Rahman said the move aims to provide a comprehensive, integrated, cost-effective and sustainable solid waste management system, in line with society’s demand for environmental conservation and public well-being.
He said the the main challenge is to encourage the effective practice of the reduce, reuse and recycle (3R) culture among society.
“This campaign is important to ensure that waste, particularly domestic refuse, can be disposed effectively. According to available data, 33 tons of domestic solid waste is produced daily, ” he said, adding that a total of RM1.3 billion has been allocated for waste collection and related activity.
Abdul Rahman also spoke about creating an ecological industrial park, which will have a primary centre of industry and waste generation to enable primary industry waste to be reused by secondary industries. He said such areas have long been established in countries like Japan and Denmark.
“We have not determined the location but it must be a site where industries are willing to be relocated. We will be talking to the relevant ministry and state government.
“This is a big initiative and it requires huge parcel of land and time to plan, but we need to start somewhere and today is the starting point” he said.
Abdul Rahman said Malaysia needs to show the world that we have the best practices in place for proper management of solid waste to achieve developed nation status by 2020.
“Awareness on the importance of the 3R culture must start from home, the catalyst must be the people on the ground,” he added.
