784,970 tonnes of waste in 2023, urgent need for sustainable solutions

KUCHING: In 2023, a total of 784,970 tonnes of waste was collected and reported by local authorities in Sarawak.

Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the amount of waste generated is not just a statistic, but a call to action.

“Every year, local authorities need to spend a significant portion of their revenue to manage solid waste, which includes landfill maintenance.

“The increase in the volume of waste collection means increasing the cost of managing the solid waste, involving council money that otherwise can be used to improve the quality of lives of the community.

“The increasing amount of waste in landfills also leads to increase in the emission of harmful greenhouse gases, contributing to adverse climate change effects, while incineration releases pollutants into the air,” Dr Sim, who is also the Deputy Premier, said.

He said this in his text speech read by his deputy, Datuk Michael Tiang Ming Tee, during the School Recycling Competition Prize Giving at UCSI Hotel here on Thursday (Jan 25).

Therefore, Dr Sim said the ministry, in collaboration with local authorities in Sarawak, is relentless in its efforts to enhance solid waste management across the state, striving towards the establishment of sustainable cities.

“A more efficient solid waste management system will ultimately lead to a decrease in the generation of greenhouse gases.

“It is a collective responsibility of our Ministry and the local authorities in Sarawak to continuously mitigate the global warming caused by climate change.”

On a related note, Dr Sim said that it is essential to foster a sense of environmentally responsibility, encouraging everyone to play their part in the global effort to create a more sustainable future.

“Continuously inculcating the community on practicing 3R (reduce, reuse ad recycle) on daily life is needed especially starting from young.”

On the event, Dr Sim, who congratulated the participants, said that the programme in 2023 was participated by 73 schools comprising 41 schools from Kuching and Samarahan Zone and 32 schools from Sibu and Sarikei Zone.

“The schools managed to collect a total amount of 285,112kg, (204,251kg from Kuching and Samarahan Zone and 80,800kq from Sibu and Sarikei Zone) of recycled items over the period of six months, starting on July 1, 2023 and ending on Dec 30, 2023.”