Building resilience, one recycled bottle at a time — Ben Fong Kok Seng

JUNE 29 — On June 24, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming launched the National Recycling Campaign in a mall in Bukit Bintang, which is one of Malaysia’s busiest commercial districts. Every day, thousands of people shop, dine, work and travel through the area. With that activity comes a huge amount of packaging, plastic bottles, cans, paper and other materials that are too often discarded after a single use.

That is why the launch location is significant. Bukit Bintang, where I am active in community work, represents modern urban consumption at its most visible. It is therefore the ideal place to demonstrate how vibrant commercial districts should lead the way in embracing more sustainable and responsible practices. 

Recent events in West Asia have reminded us how interconnected the world has become. The tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz has highlighted how disruptions thousands of kilometres away can affect global supply chains, drive up shipping costs and ultimately contribute to higher prices for goods that Malaysians rely on every day.

While these are developments beyond our control, they are a reminder that we should make better use of the resources we already have.

That is why recycling matters. Every aluminium can, plastic bottle, cardboard box and electronic device that is properly recovered becomes part of a circular economy instead of being discarded after a single use. By keeping valuable materials in circulation, we reduce unnecessary waste, lessen our dependence on new raw materials and build a more resource-efficient economy.

This is no small issue. According to SWCorp Malaysia, Malaysians generated about 15.2 million tonnes of waste in 2024, equivalent to more than 41,000 tonnes every day. Almost 40 per cent of the waste sent to landfills could actually be recycled, suggesting that millions of tonnes of valuable materials are still being discarded instead of being recovered and reused.

Recycling alone will not shield us from global inflation or geopolitical uncertainty. But it is one practical step that strengthens Malaysia’s resilience by making better use of resources that are already within our reach.

This is why the National Recycling Campaign is a good step forward. But awareness alone will not be enough.

Most Malaysians understand that recycling is good and our national recycling rate increased from 35.38 per cent in 2023 to 37.9 per cent in 2024. The problem is that doing it is not always easy. Recycling bins may not be easily accessible, poorly labelled or located too far from homes. Many people are also unsure what can be recycled, where to send e-waste, or whether the items they separate are genuinely processed properly.

If we want recycling to become a daily habit, it must be made easier than simply throwing everything into one bin.

Minister Nga has done the right thing by mandating all malls to provide recycling facilities. Perhaps this can be expanded to public transport hubs, markets, housing areas and workplaces with a huge number of employees. At the same time, we need clearer labelling, reliable collection systems and practical incentives that encourage households and businesses to participate consistently.

Businesses also have an important role to play. Retailers, food outlets and manufacturers should continue finding ways to reduce unnecessary packaging and design products that are easier to reuse, repair and recycle.

A good example is mooncake packaging. In the run-up to the Mid-Autumn Festival, usually celebrated in September, beautifully presented gift boxes fill the shelves. While the design is often impressive, many packages contain multiple layers of decorative materials that serve little purpose beyond aesthetics. Once the mooncakes are enjoyed, much of the packaging is discarded.

Consumers, meanwhile, can begin with small but meaningful changes, such as separating household waste, carrying reusable bags and bottles, and sending e-waste to proper collection points.

Building a more sustainable Malaysia requires a whole-of-society effort. The Government sets the direction and provides the necessary infrastructure. Businesses innovate and offer more sustainable products and services. The public completes the cycle by making responsible choices part of everyday life. 

Places like Bukit Bintang can show how this whole-of-society effort can work in practice. In a district shaped by constant movement, commerce and consumption, the choices made by businesses, workers, residents and visitors can add up quickly.

A cleaner Malaysia is an important goal. But so is a smarter Malaysia, one that understands that in a world of rising costs and uncertain supply chains, we cannot afford to waste the resources we already have.

* Ben Fong Kok Seng is the chairperson of the Bukit Bintang Parliamentary Zone Residents’ Representative Council.

** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.