Scheduled Waste Management In Johor Needs Serious Attention - Industry Player

JOHOR BAHRU, Jan 6 (Bernama) -- The management of scheduled waste is a critical issue that requires serious attention from the Johor State Government, in line with rapid industrial growth and investment, particularly in the oil and gas, petrochemical and manufacturing sectors, according to an industry player.

Econas Resource To Energy Sdn Bhd (E2RE) executive chairman Datuk Mohd Shafiee Mohd Sanip said Johor, as one of the country’s largest industrial states, faces significant risks to public safety and the environment if hazardous waste is not managed systematically and close to its source of generation.

“Johor has aluminium, steel, petrochemical and oil refining industries that directly generate scheduled waste. If it is not properly managed, the impact will not only affect the environment but also public safety,” he told Bernama in a recent interview.

E2RE is involved in the collection, treatment, recycling, recovery and final disposal of scheduled waste.

He said that while Malaysia has a strong legal framework and a high level of compliance among premises and scheduled waste transport operators, weaknesses still exist in on-the-ground enforcement, including issues related to overloading of lorries and road accidents.

He added that the presence of more accredited scheduled waste treatment facilities in Johor could reduce the risks associated with long-distance transportation on public roads, thereby minimising the potential for accidents and pollution.

“In the past, there may have been no choice, but now manufacturers have the option of using licensed facilities that are closer. Why take the risk of transporting waste hundreds of kilometres on public roads?” he said.

He also drew attention to Johor’s road infrastructure, which he said is still undergoing construction or upgrading, further increasing safety risks in the transportation of scheduled waste.

“Some highways in Johor are still partially completed, with narrow lanes shared with public vehicles. Transporting scheduled materials under such conditions is extremely dangerous, as any accident could pose serious risks to road users and the environment,” he said.

According to him, transporting hazardous waste along congested public roads, including main routes that frequently record accidents, should not be an option if there are licensed treatment facilities closer by.

“Every week we hear of accidents involving lorries. Imagine if a lorry carrying scheduled waste were to overturn or leak on a public road. The impact would not be minor; it could directly affect the public,” he said.

He stressed that public safety should be a primary consideration in planning scheduled waste management, in line with Johor’s development and sustainability agenda.

“Every refining or processing activity inevitably generates waste. Without proper planning, the risks of pollution and safety hazards will increase. These materials cannot be disposed of indiscriminately. They must be sent to suitable and licensed treatment facilities,” he said.

He noted that in 2023, Malaysia recorded approximately seven million tonnes of scheduled waste, with Johor accounting for about 25 per cent, making it one of the largest contributors nationwide.

In this regard, he proposed that the state government consider establishing a Johor Green Sustainability Fund, financed through contributions from high-risk industries such as steel, petrochemical and oil plants, without burdening government finances or taxpayers.

He suggested that contributions be based on a clear formula such as the volume of waste generated, production capacity or carbon emissions, in line with the internationally practised ‘polluter pays principle’.

He said the fund could be used to support the Department of Environment as well as to finance remediation work in the event of pollution incidents such as contaminated rivers or illegal waste dumping.

“When pollution occurs, the government is the one that has to bear the cost. With this fund, we would have readily available resources for clean-up, monitoring and enforcement,” he said.

Referring to the Sungai Kim Kim pollution incident, he said failure to manage hazardous waste not only affects residents’ health but also entails high clean-up costs.

-- BERNAMA