Discussion on the expanded producer responsibility roundtable series in Malaysia, focused on fostering a circular economy through extended producer responsibility (EPR) initiatives
In July 2024, Malaysia took a significant step forward in its waste management journey, as the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), The Royal Norwegian Embassy, and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Malaysia hosted a roundtable discussion on Malaysia's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) journey.
Key stakeholders from government, industry, and civic society gathered to discuss ways for Malaysia to improve its waste management efforts. The event, aimed at publishing news, events, jobs, and thought leadership, was hosted by EB Publishing.
One of the key topics of discussion was the potential introduction of a Deposit Return System (DRS) and leveraging existing recycling infrastructure in Malaysia. The DRS, a system where consumers receive a refund for returning used beverage containers, could help boost recycling rates and reduce plastic waste.
Malaysia generates approximately 39,000 tonnes of waste daily, with much of it ending up in landfills. The country is currently embarking on its EPR journey, aiming to hold producers accountable for the lifecycle of their products, including the post-consumer stage.
During the discussion, Malaysia referenced nations such as the United Kingdom, European Union, and Australia as reference points. These countries have successfully implemented EPR and DRS systems, and their experiences provided valuable insights for Malaysia.
However, Malaysia's recycling rate remains low despite efforts. The roundtable discussion explored ways for Malaysia to reference other nations' recycling and waste collection efforts to improve its own systems. Leveraging existing recycling infrastructure in Malaysia was also a key point of discussion.
Southeast Asia's waste management efforts could potentially be led by Malaysia, as it takes steps to improve its waste management systems. The goal of the event was to reach those who matter to the publisher, and to contribute to the ongoing conversation about sustainable waste management in Malaysia and beyond.
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