PUTRAJAYA: The establishment of a National Circular Economy Council aims to hasten the shift from a linear economy to a comprehensive circular economy in solid waste management. Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming announced the approval of the council during a press conference on Thursday (Sept 7), highlighting its high-impact potential for the country.
In his statement, Nga emphasized that transitioning to a circular economy can optimize product life cycles and minimize waste production by maximizing resource utilization. The current linear waste management system, where raw materials are transformed into products and ultimately discarded in landfills, carries adverse environmental consequences and depletes resources in an unsustainable manner.
The council is set to concentrate on six key elements that will support the circular economy ecosystem. These include the development of markets and demand for recycled materials, the design of products that promote reuse, recycling, and environmental friendliness throughout their life cycles, and the encouragement of waste segregation at its source. The council will also focus on enhancing the solid waste collection system, establishing appropriate infrastructure facilities and incentives, creating an integrated data system, and fostering collaboration between the public, private, and community sectors.
Nga’s ministry is currently drafting a blueprint that will serve as a primary reference for stakeholders. The National Circular Economy Council will be responsible for coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the action plan derived from the blueprint.
Moreover, adopting a circular economy approach to solid waste management has the potential to create new business opportunities and stimulate community economic activities. As the demand and market for recycled goods grow, additional employment opportunities within the circular economy value chain, such as in design, recycling activities, and remanufacturing, will arise.
Nga highlighted that the waste cycle rate in 2015 was a mere 15%, but it has since increased to 33.17%. However, the National Solid Waste Management Department has set a target of 40% by 2025. To bridge this gap and achieve the international benchmark of 60% to 70%, Nga emphasized the need to expedite the implementation of this initiative, urging everyone to join forces. – Bernama
Credit: The Star : News Feed
