KUALA LUMPUR – More than 1,000 shopping malls nationwide will be equipped with Recycling Facilities (FPS) by the end of this year, following a Cabinet decision to make such facilities mandatory. The move forms part of broader efforts to enhance solid waste management and advance Malaysia’s transition towards a circular economy.
Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said the Cabinet’s June 5 decision underscores the MADANI Government’s commitment to progressive, sustainable, and high-impact waste management reforms, Bernama reported.
He added that the government now sees waste not as a burden but as a resource with economic potential.
“The move to make recycling facilities in shopping malls a licensing requirement will facilitate public convenience while strengthening the national sustainability agenda.
KPKT (Ministry of Housing and Local Government) aims to make recycling as easy as shopping. With these facilities, consumers and traders can sort and deliver recyclable materials more easily and conveniently,” he said in a statement today.
Nga said the initiative is expected to reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills, promote recycling habits, and support the development of a circular economy.
Implementation will proceed in phases across four main stages, beginning this month to ensure effectiveness and sustainability.
The first phase will concentrate on approval processes, advocacy, voluntary registration, and engagement with state governments, local authorities, and industry players. Public awareness campaigns on recycling will also be intensified.
The second phase, from January to June 2027, will feature pilot projects in selected local authorities. By-law amendments will be tested to evaluate infrastructure needs and gauge public acceptance before expanding nationwide.
The third phase, from July to December 2027, will involve targeted mandatory enforcement through licensing conditions and guidelines set by local authorities, based on findings from the pilot projects.
Full enforcement and continuous monitoring are scheduled to begin in January 2028, ensuring that FPS provision becomes integral to Malaysia’s solid waste management and circular economy framework.
Currently, Malaysia generates more than 39,000 tonnes of solid waste daily. Nga noted that higher recycling rates could reduce reliance on landfills, create jobs, and generate economic value through the circular economy.
He added that, alongside 131 drive-through recycling centres and existing facilities, KPKT aims to build 18 waste-to-energy (WTE) plants to diversify the country’s energy sources and strengthen energy security and economic resilience. – June 10, 2026