Municipal solid waste management in Malaysia: Practices and challenges

• Published in: Waste management (Elmsford) Vol. 29; no. 11; pp. 2902 - 2906
• Main Authors: Manaf, Latifah Abd, Samah, Mohd Armi Abu, Zukki, Nur Ilyana Mohd
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cost-Benefit Analysis; ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; Environmental Pollutants - chemistry; ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION; Exact sciences and technology; Forecasting; General treatment and storage processes; Global environmental pollution; LEGISLATION; LOCAL GOVERNMENT; MALAYSIA; Management; MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; MUNICIPAL WASTES; Other wastes and particular components of wastes; Pollution; Population Growth; PUBLIC HEALTH; Reduction; Refuse Disposal - economics; Refuse Disposal - methods; Solid waste management; SOLID WASTES; Urban and domestic wastes; WASTE MANAGEMENT; Waste Products - analysis; Waste Products - statistics & numerical data; Wastes; Malaysia; Waste management; Legislation; Urban waste; Solid waste; Housing; Domestic refuse; Private sector; Public health; Environmental protection
• ISSN: 0956-053X; 1879-2456
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2008.07.015

Rapid economic development and population growth, inadequate infrastructure and expertise, and land scarcity make the management of municipal solid waste become one of Malaysia’s most critical environmental issues. The study is aimed at evaluating the generation, characteristics, and management of solid waste in Malaysia based on published information. In general, the per capita generation rate is about 0.5–0.8 kg/person/day in which domestic waste is the primary source. Currently, solid waste is managed by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, with the participation of the private sector. A new institutional and legislation framework has been structured with the objectives to establish a holistic, integrated, and cost-effective solid waste management system, with an emphasis on environmental protection and public health. Therefore, the hierarchy of solid waste management has given the highest priority to source reduction through 3R, intermediate treatment and final disposal.