PETALING JAYA: The government is mandating all shopping malls to provide recycling facilities as a condition for premises licence application and renewal, with implementation to begin in phases this month.
The rollout will start with an engagement and awareness phase to encourage voluntary participation from mall operators, followed by pilot projects at selected local authorities before full enforcement is introduced nationwide.
The housing and local government ministry said the measure, approved at a Cabinet meeting yesterday, is aimed at improving public access to recycling facilities and accelerating the shift towards a circular economy.
“Shopping malls are among the most visited locations by the public,” the minister, Nga Kor Ming, said in a statement.
“By establishing recycling facilities in these strategic locations, the public will have easier access to separate and drop off recyclable materials responsibly.”
The ministry said the initiative would also support the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility and reduce the country’s reliance on landfills. Malaysia currently generates more than 39,000 tonnes of solid waste daily.
It also said that mall operators and local authorities are expected to benefit from improved recyclable material collection rates and more systematic data management on recycling activities.
The public will also be able to generate income through trash-to-cash programmes by sending recyclable materials to the facilities provided.
The ministry said that to ensure effective implementation, it will work closely with state governments, local councils, shopping mall operators, and other relevant ministries and agencies to develop clear and standardised guidelines nationwide.
