Title: A review of commercial waste recycling policy in Malaysia

Authors: Hui Wen Kam; Mohamad Rizal Baharum; Shirley Jin Lin Chua

Addresses: Department of Building Surveying, Faculty of Built Environment, University of Malaysia, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ' Department of Building Surveying, Faculty of Built Environment, University of Malaysia, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ' Department of Building Surveying, Faculty of Built Environment, University of Malaysia, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract: Commercial business sectors have an ethical obligation to act responsibility towards the environment. Although Malaysia has developed a National Solid Waste Management Policy, the prioritisation of options for waste management is from reduction, reuse, recovery, treatment and finally to disposal. However, recycling is the most enforceable of the environmentally sound practices that a business can undertake. The recycling rate in Malaysia is only 11% whereas businesses in most European Union countries such as Germany and the UK appear to achieve much higher levels of recycling, more than 50%. Apparently, there is a gap between the policy framework for sustainable waste management in Malaysia and that of developed countries. This study reviews the solid waste management policy frameworks in both developed countries and developing countries. It is critical to understand Malaysia's sustainable development in solid waste management to ensure that responsible disposal of resources that meet the overall sustainability of the business can be attained.

Keywords: commercial recycling; developing countries; Malaysia; waste management policy; waste recycling; solid waste management; sustainable development; sustainability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2016.079482

International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 2016 Vol.15 No.4, pp.404 - 422

Accepted: 25 Sep 2015
Published online: 29 Sep 2016 *

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