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Did you know that each person in Malaysia throws away about 0.8kg of garbage daily? With the country’s population of almost 28 million and growing, imagine the amount of waste produced daily. If these mountains of waste are not disposed off properly, the entire country will soon be covered by rubbish. Something needs to be done, and SMEs have their role to play too, as it is estimated that commercial waste makes up 40% of total solid waste produced.
Both individuals and businesses especially have a social and environmental responsibility to fulfil. With the rapid development in today’s industrialised world, the issue of preserving and managing our environment has become crucial. The increasing awareness of the importance of good environmental management systems is evidenced by the amendments made to the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and other environmental regulations which serve to ensure stricter compliance of environmental standards. Malaysia also adopted the National Environment Policy in 2002 as a means of addressing environmental issues in an integrated manner while more and more companies are striving to attain the MS14001 EMS certification.
SOLID WASTE STATISTICS UNDER NINTH MALAYSIA PLAN (9MP)
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.
WHAT SMEs CAN DO TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT
As responsible corporate citizens, SMEs have a major role to play in preserving the environment. For starters, they can help the Government to achieve its recycling goals, by creating mechanisms to facilitate the segregation of recyclable wastes and to ensure that these wastes are sent to the relevant parties instead of being dumped in landfills and illegal dumpsites. Furthermore, SMEs must also ensure that proper waste management systems are in place in conducting their day-to-day businesses.
Below are a few steps that SMEs can take to do their part for the environment:
• Dispose off company wastes properly and responsibly.
• Encourage employees to reuse items where possible, for example, printing on both sides of the paper, etc.
• Practise recycling in the office, by introducing a recycling programme. Among the items that can be recycled are papers, cardboards, glass, aluminium cans and scrap metals.
• Implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS).
WHAT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (EMS)?
An EMS provides a framework for managing environmental practices that integrates with overall business goals in a systematic way. Various models can be applied to develop, implement and maintain an EMS. One of the more common models used by industries is the model described by the ISO 14001 standard which was developed by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). The ISO 14001 standard EMS model focuses on continuous improvement through an on-going cycle of actions called the continual improvement cycle which incorporates the elements of planning, doing, checking and acting.
An EMS typically begins with a strong environmental policy which describes the organisation’s approach in managing its environmental affairs and reflects its commitment to protect the environment and human well-being. The environmental policy establishes the framework for environmental leadership and serves as a contract between an organisation’s employees and its stakeholders. As such, commitment and strong support from top management is essential in making an EMS a success. Developing the environmental policy also helps to lay the groundwork for the planning phase of the EMS cycle. It is in this stage that active management support is sought, a multi-disciplinary EMS implementation team is formed and an introduction meeting is held to brief employees on the implementation of EMS. On top of that, the scope and budget for the implementation of EMS is also pre-defined. In other words, it is important that management provides all the resources necessary for the successful implementation of EMS.
CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES IN MALAYSIA
It is evident that Malaysia has put in place various initiatives to preserve the environment while utilizing resources efficiently. These initiatives include the following:
1. Discouraging open burning in fields and plantation sites while encouraging the composting of felled trees and crops in an environmentally-friendly way which in turn prepares land for replanting by using natural fertilizer;
2. Discouraging the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in various industrial, commercial and household appliances; and
3. Encouraging the recycling of resources for example, in the plastic manufacturing industry, materials are being regenerated through the forming process in an effort to reuse biodegradable products in an environmentally-friendly way.
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.
THE NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN FOR SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT (NSPSWM)
The National Strategic Plan for Solid Waste Management (NSPSWM), which was approved by the Government in 2005, sets the broad direction on the integrated waste management of the country. It addresses the need for a master plan on waste minimization to provide a framework and action plan to implement waste minimization and 3R (reuse, reduction and recycling) activities.
The 9MP provides for the implementation of the NSPSWM with emphasis on the upgrading of unsanitary landfills as well as the construction of new sanitary landfills and transfer stations with integrated material recovery facilities. Priority will continue to be given to reduce, reuse, recover and recycle waste as well as greater use of environmentally-friendly materials such as bioplastics. Legislation to streamline solid waste management will be enacted to facilitate the implementation of the strategies and measures in the Strategic Plan. Awareness-raising campaigns and activities will be increased to educate the public on the benefits of practicing sustainable consumption.
SOLID WASTE AND PUBLIC CLEANSING MANAGEMENT ACT 2007
The Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 provides for and regulates the management of controlled solid waste and public cleansing to maintain proper sanitation and related matters. The Act will take effect on 1st January 2009, after which the Ministry of Housing and Local Government will take over the solid waste and public cleansing management duties from 103 local authorities in Peninsula Malaysia. All matters regarding solid waste and public cleansing will then be handled by the Ministry’s National Solid Waste Management Department, which is responsible for planning and outlining policies and strategies. The Ministry has also formed the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation to implement the policies and strategies and enforce the relevant laws and regulations.
Solid waste, as defined under the Act, includes any scrap material or other unwanted surplus substance or rejected products arising from the application of any process and any substance required to be disposed of as being broken, worn out, contaminated or otherwise spoiled, but does not include scheduled wastes as prescribed under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Act 127), sewage as defined in the Water Services Industry Act 2006 (Act 655) or radioactive waste as defined in the Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984 (Act 304).
INCENTIVES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND WASTE MANAGEMENT
In an effort to support an enhanced level of environmental pro activity, the government provides a range of fiscal activities which includes the Pioneer Status tax exemption and the Investment Tax Allowance for the manufacture of environmentally-friendly products, the provision and supply of environmentally-friendly services and specific activities which contribute towards the presentation of the environment. The said incentives are available for the following activities:
- Storage, treatment and disposal of toxic and hazardous waste
- Waste recycling activities which are high-tech in nature for instance, recycling agricultural wastes, chemicals and the production of reconstituted wood-based panel boards or other products
- Energy-generating activities using biomass which are renewable and environmentally-friendly. Examples of biomass resources include palm oil mill waste, rice mill waste, sugar cane mill waste, timber/sawmill waste and paper recycling mill waste
- Energy conservation services
Accelerated Capital Allowance with a special initial rate of 40% and an annual rate of 20% for total write-off within three years is given to organisations that are waste generators, for their capital expenditure on machinery and equipment incurred, to set up facilities to store, treat and dispose their waste. This incentive is also available to companies undertaking waste recycling activities.
If you are interested to find out more about environmental preservation and waste management, here are some useful contacts:
Department of Environment
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
Level 1-4, Podium 2 & 3
Lot 4G3, Precinct 4
Federal Government Administrative Centre
62574 Putrajaya, Malaysia
Tel: 603-8871 2000 / 8871 2200
Fax: 603-8889 1973 / 75
Website: www.doe.gov.my
Environmental Management and Research Association of Malaysia (ENSEARCH)
No. 30-3, Jalan PJU 5/16, Dataran Sunway
Kota Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya
Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: 603-6156 9807 / 8
Fax: 603-6156 9803
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.ensearch.org
Waste Management Association of Malaysia
No. 20, Jalan Wan Kadir 1
Taman Tun Dr Ismail
60000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: 603-7724 2243
Fax: 603-7726 9062
Website: www.wmam.org
More Malaysia Waste Management Companies
CONCLUSION
Improving the quality of our environment requires the cooperation of the government, organizations and the community. The government can encourage organizations to be environmentally responsible by providing fiscal incentives. Within organizations, commitment from top level management and employees is quintessential in planning, implementing, checking and reviewing work aspects which may result in potential harmful impacts to the environment. Members of the community can also play their part by supporting the various “green” initiatives promoted by the government which indirectly contributes towards sustainable development and long-term environment preservation.
