Malaysia Waste Management

Malaysia disposes of more than 39,000 tons of municipal solid waste daily, equivalent to about 1.17kg per person, with over 30% being food waste. Malaysians waste a staggering 8.3 million metric tons of food annually, about 260kg per person. The increase in solid waste is caused by population growth, lifestyle changes, and the rapid urbanization and development process.

Malaysia will run out of space for solid waste disposal at the country’s landfills by 2050. The limited land and high cost of landfill operations have increased the government’s environmental and financial concerns.

Malaysia needs strategic waste management solutions as the country has a lower recycling rate compared with its neighbors. Malaysia also experiences waste management challenges due to a lack of technology, experienced labor, and infrastructure to address the problem adequately.

The Housing and Local Government Ministry is planning to establish six Waste-to-energy (WtE) plants across Malaysia by 2025. Malaysia’s newest and largest renewable energy power plant at Bukit Tagar Enviro Park (BTEP), Selangor with a capacity of 12 MW is one of the means for treating solid waste while producing new renewable energy. The government planned to have a WtE plant in every state by 2035 in line with the energy transition roadmap.

Malaysia is seeking new initiatives related to circular economy implementation, WtE development, and solid waste management facilities.  The goal is to ensure the preservation of the environment, in line with the national ambition to achieve net zero by 2050.

If you represent a U.S. company with innovative and sustainable waste management solutions and are keen to explore opportunities in Malaysia, please contact Senior Commercial Specialist Siau Wei Pung at office.kualalumpur@trade.gov.