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Waste Management for Small Medium Industries(SMIs/SMEs)This article was from SMI / SME Business Directory

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What is Waste Management? Waste management involves collecting, transporting, processing, recycling and disposing wastematerials, 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 wastemanagement requires careful planning and also adequate financial resources and is theresponsibility of all parties involved such as individuals, businesses and corporations, includingSMEs.

Waste Management under the 9th Malaysia Plan (8MP) It was reported in the 9MP that the amount of solid waste generated in Peninsular Malaysiaincreased from 16,200 tonnes per day in 2001 to 19,100 tonnes in 2005 or an average of 0.8 kg percapita 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, theamount 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 generatedper annum. Of the total waste generated in 2004, about 18.8% was treated and disposed in thetoxic waste treatment and disposal facility in Bukit Nanas, Negeri Sembilan, 58.0% was recycledand recovered at licensed premises, 19.7% was treated and stored within the premises ofgenerators, 0.7% was exported for recycling and 2.7% was disposed at clinical wasteincinerators. The recycling and material recovery from toxic waste registered a significantincrease from 29.0% in 2001 to 58.0% in 2004. This resulted in a reduction in toxic waste treatedand stored within premises from 59.9% in 2001 to 19.7% in 2004.

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The National Strategic Plan for Solid Waste Management (NSPSWM) The National Strategic Plan for Solid Waste Management (NSPSWM), which was approved bythe Government in 2005, sets the broad direction on the integrated waste management of thecountry. It addresses the need for a master plan on waste minimisation to provide a frameworkand action plan to implement waste minimization and 3R (reuse, reduction and recycling)

activities.The 9th Malaysia Plan (9MP) provides for the implementation of the NSPSWM with emphasison the upgrading of unsanitary landfills as well as the construction of new sanitary landfills andtransfer stations with integrated material recovery facilities. Priority will continue to be given toreduce, reuse, recover and recycle waste as well as greater use of environmentally-friendlymaterials such as bioplastics. Legislation to streamline solid waste management will be enactedto 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 ofpracticing sustainable consumption. A solid waste department will be established to implementthese measures and to administer solid waste policy, planning and management.

Management of Solid Waste in 9MP (Housing & Urban Services) The management of solid waste under housing and urban services during the 9MP period willbe based on the NSPSWM. The NSPSWM sets out the policies, strategies and plan of action inthe management of solid waste and will be a guide for all stakeholders in the planning andallocation of resources. Existing institutions, legislation and regulations pertaining to themanagement of solid waste will be reviewed and infrastructural facilities will be improved.Priority will be accorded to reduction, reuse and recovery as well as the technology and type offacilities to be provided, including the construction of small and manageable-sized disposalfacilities. A new entity, the Solid Waste Management Department will be established under theMinistry of Housing and Local Government to undertake policy formulation, planning andmanagement of solid waste including financial management.

During the 9MP period, public awareness campaigns will be intensified to ensure better publicresponse and participation in development programmes, projects and activities on themanagement of solid waste. These campaigns will focus on educating the public on the need tohave proper waste management facilities, the costs associated with the provision of suchservices and the role of the public in waste minimization programmes. At the national level, amaster plan on solid waste minimization will be formulated. This master plan aims tostrengthen the institutional capacity of respective agencies as well as to create a society that iscommitted towards waste minimization and achieving a recycling target of 22% by 2020.

Management of Hazardous Waste under 9MP A hazardous waste is a solid, liquid or gas that could pose dangers to human health or theenvironment. In Malaysia, the control of hazardous wastes is governed by the EnvironmentalQuality Act 1974. Under the Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations, 1989,scheduled wastes are required to be handled properly and as far as is practical, be renderedinnocuous before disposal. These categories of wastes shall be disposed off at prescribedpremises only and be treated at prescribed premises or treatment facilities only. Currently, thereare 107 categories of scheduled wastes listed under these regulations.

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Under the 9MP, the institutional capacity of the relevant agencies managing toxic andhazardous substances will be further strengthened via the adoption of a global harmonizedsystem for the registration of imports, transportation and safe handling of chemical andhazardous substances. Measures will also be undertaken to develop a framework to facilitatethe utilization of approaches and technologies to treat and convert toxic waste into resources for

reuse. In addition, steps to address the indiscriminate use of chemicals, particularly inagricultural practices, will be intensified.

SMEs Role in Waste Management The partnership between the Government, the private sector, the NGOs, and the public iscrucial in the progress of the national waste management agenda. SMEs have a major role toplay in assisting the Government to achieve its recycling goals, by creating mechanisms tofacilitate the segregation of recyclable wastes and to ensure that these wastes are sent to therelevant parties instead of being dumped in landfills and illegal dumpsites. Furthermore, SMEsmust also ensure that proper waste management systems are in place in conducting their day-to-day businesses.

Waste Management Association of Malaysia (WMAM)Persatuan Pengurusan Sisa Malaysia also known as the Waste Management Association ofMalaysia (WMAM) is an association for waste management professionals. Founded in March2005, the WMAM works to promote and encourage the maintenance of high standards of wastemanagement services in Malaysia in respect of solid and liquid waste, hazardous, clinical andall other types of waste. It also encourages collaboration and cooperation between all thoseinterested and concerned with waste management.

The WMAM is a non-profit, technical and educational organization that provides a forumwhere all viewpoints of waste management matters can be discussed. As a newly establishedassociation, it aims to establish and maintain contact with local as well as international wastemanagement related organizations apart from organizing meetings, technical visits, trainings,courses, workshops and seminars on issues of waste management including study trips topromote the transfer of practical information and ideas on waste management for the benefitand welfare of the members.