‘State to strive for efficient solid waste management’

SARAWAK and its 26 local authorities will continue to improve solid waste management.

“Efficient solid waste management will help reduce greenhouse gas generation,” said Sarawak Deputy Public Health and Housing Minister Michael Tiang at the Sibu and Sarikei Zones School Recycling Campaign 2022 prize-giving ceremony.

He said in 2019, the state spent RM58mil or 34% of its revenue to manage solid waste, including maintenance, and in 2020, it dropped to RM55mil, which was about 32%.

According to a study conducted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Malaysia’s recycling rate was only 28% compared with Singapore’s 61% and Germany’s 68%.

“If no efforts are being made to recycle, solid waste management will cost more.

“On average, Sibu and Sarikei are collecting about 94,622 tonnes of municipal waste annually,” he said.

As for ewaste collection, the Pelawan assemblyman said 73.4 tonnes of ewaste was collected in Sarawak in 2020 and 14.9 tonnes in 2021.

Based on data from 2021 Global E-Waste Control, 57.4 million tonnes of electrical and electronic device waste was generated worldwide in 2021.

On the school recycling campaign, he said it involved 42 schools (33 primary and nine secondary) under Sibu Municipal Council, Sibu Rural District Council and Sarikei District Council.

The programme in Sibu and Sarikei zones collected 111,344kg of recycled items over a period of six months, starting May 1, 2022.

“I believe the programne has helped inculcate the 3R philosophy of reduce, reuse and recycle to make it a norm,” he said.