WASTE MANAGEMENT

Solid waste is one of Malaysia's three major environmental issues. Solid waste will occur from garbage generated by humans on a daily basis, such as clothes, newspapers, and food, as well as from uncontrolled consumption and production by humans in order to meet their needs and desires.

Malaysia's population is rapidly growing and is expected to reach 32.8 million by 2021, generating a massive amount of solid waste, estimated to be 38,427 metric tonnes per day in 2021 (1.17 kg/capita/day). By 2022, the amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated will have increased by approximately 14 million metric tonnes per year. Malaysia's rate has surpassed the proposed rate of 30,000 metric tonnes per day in 2020 by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Therefore, there is an urgent need to provide these mounting issues and provide new facilities.

Since I was a child, my mother has taught me to collect all of the clothes that I no longer wear and place them in a bag to give to others who are unable, as well as donate them to local charities or community centres. They will use the clothes as a result, and at the same time, we will reduce clothing waste. Other than that, whenever we go to the supermarket, I always notice my mother buying items in bulk, such as tissue paper, toothbrushes, and tooth paste. It is because the items will be cheaper and we will also reduce solid waste like packaging. Aside from that, to avoid paper waste, I like to reuse and recycle newspapers and magazines as wrapping paper. It all started when I realised my mother liked collecting old newspapers and using them as wrapping paper.

All of the steps on above are directly related to the target of Sustainable Development Goal number 12, to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns, which is by 2030, to substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse. Thus, I hope that everyone will practise reducing, recycling, and reusing the items around them in order to achieve the goals and avoid an increase in solid waste in the coming years.