What is Waste Management?
Waste management involves collecting, transporting, processing, recycling and disposing waste materials, in an effort to reduce their adverse effects on human health and the environment. Waste materials include solid, liquid or gaseous substances. The implementation of waste management requires careful planning and also adequate financial resources and is the responsibility of all parties involved such as individuals, businesses and corporations, including SMEs.

Waste Management under the 9th Malaysia Plan (8MP)
It was reported in the 9MP that the amount of solid waste generated in Peninsular Malaysia increased from 16,200 tonnes per day in 2001 to 19,100 tonnes in 2005 or an average of 0.8 kg per capita per day. Solid waste in Malaysia comprises on average 45.0% food waste, 24.0% plastic, 7.0% paper, 6.0% iron, and 3.0% glass and others. Despite concerted efforts to promote reuse, reduction and recycling (3Rs) of materials through the National Campaign on Recycling, the amount of solid waste recycled remained at less than 5.0% of total waste disposed.

In the same period, an average of 430,000 tonnes of scheduled (hazardous) waste was generated per annum. Of the total waste generated in 2004, about 18.8% was treated and disposed in the toxic waste treatment and disposal facility in Bukit Nanas, Negeri Sembilan, 58.0% was recycled and recovered at licensed premises, 19.7% was treated and stored within the premises of generators, 0.7% was exported for recycling and 2.7% was disposed at clinical waste incinerators. The recycling and material recovery from toxic waste registered a significant increase from 29.0% in 2001 to 58.0% in 2004. This resulted in a reduction in toxic waste treated and stored within premises from 59.9% in 2001 to 19.7% in 2004.