PUTRAJAYA, June 6 — The government has made recycling facilities at malls a condition for the application and renewal of business premises licences under local authorities, to be implemented in phases from this month.
The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) in a statement today said the matter was agreed upon during the Cabinet meeting yesterday.
“The implementation of this initiative will begin with an engagement phase and awareness programmes to encourage voluntary participation by mall operators, followed by a pilot project in selected local authorities to assess the effectiveness of the implementation mechanism.
“Subsequently, enforcement will be carried out in stages before being expanded to mandatory compliance involving all malls nationwide,” read the statement.
KPKT said the decision to mandate recycling facilities is a strategic move by the government to strengthen national solid waste management, facilitate public access to recycling facilities, and accelerate the transition to a more sustainable circular economy.
“The proposal will also be brought to the National Council for Local Government to ensure comprehensive coordination and implementation at the state government and local authority levels.
“This step is significant considering Malaysia generates over 39,000 tonnes of solid waste daily.
“Therefore, a more comprehensive approach is required to increase the national recycling rate, support the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility, and reduce reliance on landfills,” the ministry said.
Meanwhile, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, in the same statement, said the initiative reflects the Madani Government’s commitment to strengthening the recycling culture among the public and preserving environmental sustainability.
“Malls are among the most visited locations by the public.
“By establishing recycling facilities in these strategic locations, the public will have easier access to separate and drop off recyclable materials responsibly,” Nga said.
He said this measure would not only boost the national recycling rate and reduce waste sent to landfills, but also represent a long-term investment in shaping a more environmentally conscious society and supporting sustainable economic development.
The KPKT added that the initiative is set to benefit the community, mall operators, and local authorities through the provision of more accessible facilities, increased collection rates for recyclable materials, and the strengthening of data management for recycling activities in a more systematic manner.
In addition to supporting the National Recycling Rate target, recycling facilities will help reinforce urban solid waste management and improve urban sustainability scores under the Malaysian Urban Indicators Network (MURNInets) system.
The public will also have the opportunity to generate economic value through trash-to-cash programmes by sending recyclables to these facilities.
To ensure effective implementation, KPKT will work closely with state governments, local authorities, mall operators, and ministries and agencies to provide clear, uniform guidelines for nationwide execution of the initiative.
KPKT urged all quarters, including state governments, local authorities, mall operators, the private sector, and the community, to work together to ensure the success of this initiative, to shape a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable Malaysia, in line with the aspirations of Malaysia Madani and the nation’s sustainable development agenda.
