PUTRAJAYA, June 6 — The government has made the provision of Recycling Facilities (FPS) at shopping malls mandatory for the application and renewal of business premises licences under local authorities (PBT), to be implemented in phases starting this month.

The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) in a statement today said the matter was agreed upon during the Cabinet meeting yesterday.

“The implementation of this initiative will begin with an engagement phase and awareness programmes to encourage voluntary participation by shopping mall operators, followed by a pilot project in selected PBTs to assess the effectiveness of the implementation mechanism.

“Subsequently, enforcement will be carried out in stages before being expanded to mandatory compliance involving all shopping malls nationwide,” the statement said.

KPKT said the decision to mandate FPS is a strategic move by the government to strengthen national solid waste management, facilitate public access to recycling facilities, and accelerate the transition to a more sustainable circular economy.

“The proposal will also be brought to the National Council for Local Government (MNKT) to ensure comprehensive coordination and implementation at the state government and PBT levels.

“This step is significant considering Malaysia generates over 39,000 tonnes of solid waste daily.

“Therefore, a more comprehensive approach is required to increase the national recycling rate, support the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and reduce reliance on landfills,” the ministry said.

Meanwhile, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, in the same statement, said the initiative reflects the Madani government’s commitment to strengthening the recycling culture among the public and preserving environmental sustainability.

“Shopping malls are among the most visited locations by the public.

“By establishing recycling facilities in these strategic locations, the public will have easier access to separate and drop off recyclable materials responsibly,” Nga said.

He said this measure would not only help boost the national recycling rate and reduce waste sent to landfills but also represent a long-term investment in shaping a more environmentally conscious society and supporting sustainable economic development.

The KPKT added that the implementation of this initiative is expected to benefit the community, shopping mall operators, and PBTs through the provision of more accessible facilities, increased collection rates for recyclable materials, and the strengthening of data management for recycling activities in a more systematic manner.

In addition to supporting the National Recycling Rate target, the creation of FPS will help reinforce urban solid waste management and improve urban sustainability scores under the Malaysian Urban Indicators Network (MURNInets) system.

The public will also have the opportunity to generate economic value through trash-to-cash programmes by sending recyclable materials to the facilities provided.

To ensure effective implementation, KPKT will work closely with state governments, PBTs, shopping mall operators, and relevant ministries and agencies to provide clear, uniform guidelines for nationwide execution of the initiative.

KPKT calls on all parties, including state governments, PBTs, shopping mall operators, the private sector, and the community, to work together to ensure the success of this initiative to shape a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable Malaysia, in line with the aspirations of Malaysia Madani and the nation’s sustainable development agenda.  — Bernama