Malaysia has developed a comprehensive set of legal provisions related to the management of solid waste management. The regulation was based on the cradle to grave principle. A facility which generates, stores, transports, treats or disposes solid waste is subject to the following regulations:
The Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp Malaysia) was established to complement and ensure the successful implementation of the National Solid Waste Management Policy. In general, the policy aims to provide a comprehensive, integrated, cost-effective, and sustainable solid waste management system in line with society's demand for environmental conservation and public well-being.
The Act The Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672) was gazetted on 30th August 2007 and was enforced on 1st September 2011. It was enacted to ensure the uniformity of law relating to the management of solid waste and public cleansing throughout Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan.
Act 672 makes it mandatory for all operators of solid waste and public cleansing management services as well as facilities to apply license from the Director General of the National Solid Waste Management Department. The Act also specifies that a prior written approval from the Director General of the National Solid Waste Management Department before any construction or alteration or closure of prescribed solid waste management facilities. Act 672 also covers the following:
(a) Control of solid waste generators and persons in possession of controlled solid waste;
(b) Enforcement; and
(b) Reduction and recovery of controlled solid waste.
Act 672 empowers the Federal Government to take over the management of solid waste and public cleansing from the Local Authorities (LAs) throughout Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territories of Putrajaya and Labuan. The implementation of Act 672 and its related regulations on solid waste and public cleansing management will trigger a major change in the modus operandi of solid waste and public cleansing management in Malaysia. Upon Act 672 coming into force, all works on solid waste and public cleansing management will be fully undertaken by PPSPPA. This involves the immediate takeover of responsibilities of solid waste and public cleansing management from all LAs. This is because the LAs will no longer have jurisdiction over the collection and disposal of garbage, as well as cleansing of public roads, public places, public toilets and drains. PPSPPA will assume the management and operation of all landfill sites under the LAs, including identifying and evaluating sanitary landfills, transfer stations, incineration technologies, and plant management.
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