Establishment of the National Circular Economy Council (NCEC):
Towards Sustainability in Circular Economy

by: Rudy Ludinata, Deputy Director CEM

On August 23rd, the Malaysian government took a historic step by approving the establishment of the National Circular Economy Council (NCEC) for solid waste. This announcement was made by the Minister of Local Government Development, Nga Kor Ming, during a press conference in Putrajaya. The formation of the NCEC is a significant move towards accelerating the transition from a linear economy to a holistic circular economy in solid waste management.

In a linear economy, the management of solid waste involves the extraction of raw materials to produce goods, which are then used and discarded after their lifecycle ends. This model not only impacts the environment but also leads to the unsustainable depletion of natural resources. In this context, the NCEC represents a high-impact initiative in the management of the country's solid waste.

In contrast, the Circular Economy encompasses key principles such as waste reduction, reuse of materials, recovery, and recycling of products. It is a more sustainable and efficient approach to managing solid waste and natural resources. The Circular Economy concept brings several significant benefits, including:

1. Environmental Sustainability

Reducing waste and recovering materials helps protect Malaysia's beautiful environment.

2. More Efficient Economy

Encouraging reuse and material recovery can lead to long-term cost savings.

3. Job Creation (Enterpreneurship)

Transitioning to a Circular Economy creates new job opportunities in the recovery and recycling sectors.

4. Innovation

This concept opens doors for innovation in products and services that align better with sustainability requirements.

The NCEC will provide a national platform to bring together all stakeholders in the circular economy sector. This includes developing markets and demand for recycled materials and promoting products designed to optimize their lifecycle through reuse, recycling, and environmental friendliness.

To boost economic activities in the community through the implementation of the Circular Economy, Malaysia will also take measures such as promoting waste segregation at the source, improving waste collection systems, providing suitable infrastructure, and establishing collaboration platforms between the public, private, and community sectors.

According to Nga Kor Ming, Malaysia still needs to work harder to achieve its waste recycling targets. In 2015, the waste recycling rate was only 15 percent, but it has now increased to 33.17 percent. The target set by the National Solid Waste Management Department is to reach 40 percent by 2025. However, Malaysia is still below the desired international level, which ranges from 60 to 70 percent. With the establishment of the NCEC, Malaysia hopes to expedite the implementation of this initiative and set new waste recycling targets to be determined in the first meeting of the council in December.

These actions demonstrate Malaysia's commitment to adopting the Circular Economy as a vital aspect of its national development to achieve sustainability and protect our environment. With the NCEC, Malaysia is on the right path to creating a more sustainable and efficient future.

Reference:

https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/majlis-ekonomi-kitaran-nasional-sisa-pepejal-percepat-agenda-ekonomi-kitaran-436271)

Date of Input: 15/09/2023 | Updated: 15/09/2023 | ludinata