Municipal Solid Waste Management in Malaysia: an Insight Towards Sustainability

Abstract Malaysia is one of the most successful developing countries in term of economic growth and stable politic conditions. Rapid economic transition and increasing of urban population will reflect the escalation of solid waste generation. In fact, it has become a threatened to human habitat nowadays as well as one of the critical challenges in sustainable development. Municipal solid waste management in Malaysia has experiencing a transition since 1960 until official solid waste management legislation is fully implemented in 2011. This transition shows the Malaysian government is committed to strive towards effective municipal solid waste management. The objective of this concept paper is to give an insight towards sustainable municipal solid waste management in Malaysia through brief discussion of municipal solid waste definition, characteristic, practices and policies. Keywords: Municipal solid waste management (MSWM); Municipal solid waste definition; Municipal solid waste characteristic; Municipal solid waste management policies in Malaysia; Sustainable municipal solid waste management Introduction The effective solid waste management continues to be a major challenge in developing countries including Malaysia, reflecting of rapid increasing of urban population and its solid waste generation. Statistics show the Malaysian population in urban area has increasing more than 50% in the last few decades (Tarmiji et. al. 2011). Moreover, the number of cities in peninsular Malaysia has increased 400% in 2000, as compared to the number of city in 1957 (Tarmiji et. al. 2012). Rapid urbanization and industrialization transition in Malaysia have changed the solid waste characteristics (Latifah et. al. 2009). Hence, effective solid waste management practices need to be updated to suit the current waste quantity and composition. 192 Malaysian government is committed to improve the quality of life of its citizens. In fact, solid waste management is one of the crucial factors that influencing the quality of life in urban area (Baud, 2001). Malaysian government has striven toward effective solid waste management through plenty of plans and strategies. For example, Malaysia has ratified its commitment in the Agenda 21, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and Kyoto Protocol to consider sustainability in its development. As the result, Malaysian government has announced to reduce national carbon dioxide emission 40% by 2020, as compared to 2005 levels (Sreenivasan et. al. 2012). Enhancing solid waste management is one of the main strategies that crucially emphasized in order to achieve this goal (Zeeda and Keng, 2014). There are several acts, initiatives, and strategies that influencing solid waste management in Malaysia which has started since late 1960 (Sreenivasan et. al. 2012). As a formal intervention, Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act (Act 672) has been approved in the year 2007 since has been debated for more than ten years ago by Malaysian Government. The objective of this Act is to improve the quality of services in solid waste management (Agamuthu et. al. 2009). However, implementation of this act has been delayed because of several constraints such as many local authorities are unsatisfied with the quality of the services and cost of the operations (Rozita, 2014). In the year 2011, this Act is formally implemented in seven states which involving 52 local authorities (Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation, 2011). This concept paper will discuss the definition of municipal solid waste from several perspectives. Besides that, this paper will present an overview of the characteristic of municipal solid waste in Malaysia and its current management practices. Moreover, this paper will provide some brief discussion on the evolutionary of municipal solid waste management in Malaysia. It could provide some insight to developing countries like Malaysia towards sustainable municipal solid waste management. Definition of Municipal Solid Waste In general, solid waste is unwanted things that produced by the human activities. Solid wastes have a mass, weight, and constant volume (World Bank, 1999a). Municipal solid waste is any substances or scarp materials which the holder discards or intends to discard within the area of municipal (Read, 1999). The sources of municipal solid waste is vary which are from residential, commercial, institution, industry and city center area (Table 1). Municipal solid waste is segregate and categories based on their physical compositions which are organic or inorganic waste (Table 2). Organic waste consists of food waste, garden waste, paper waste, and textile and rubber waste. Besides that, inorganic waste consists of plastic waste, metal waste, and glass waste. Moreover, in other perspective, municipal solid waste is defined base on its biodegradable status which fully biodegradable (some organic waste, paper and textiles), partially degradable (some organic waste, disposable napkin and sanitary waste) and non-degradable (metals, glass and electronic waste) (Jha et. al. 2011). However, regardless of its origin and type of material, it 193 shows the incomplete usage of natural resources as well as raw material. Hence, it is a financial loss to the world, country and individual itself (Holmes, 1996). Table 1: Sources of Municipal Solid Waste and the Types of Solid Waste. Source of Municipal Solid Waste Residential Commercial Centre (office lot, small shop, restaurant) Institutional (school, university, college, hospital) Industry (factory) City Centre (drainage and road) Type of Solid Waste Food waste, food container and packer, can, bottles, papers and newspaper, clothes, garden waste, e-wastes, furniture waste Vary type of papers and boxes, food waste, food container and packer, can, bottles, Office waste, food waste, garden waste, furniture waste Office waste, cafeteria waste, processing waste Vary type of garden waste, construction waste, public waste Source: Franklin Association (1999) Table 2: Physical Composition of Municipal Solid Waste Physical Composition Organic Inorganic Basic Classification Food waste Garden waste Textile and rubber Paper and Box Plastic Glass Metal Examples Vegetables, meats Dried leaves, twigs, cut grasses Clothes, leather products Newspaper, vary type of paper and box products 1 = Polyethylene terephthalate, 2 = High-density polyethylene, 3 = Polyvinyl chloride, 4 = Low-density polyethylene, 5 = Polypropylene , 6 = Polystyrene, 7 = Multilayer Plastic *based on coding plastic system by Plastics Industry Association Incorporation Vary type of glass products used in home, laboratory, and etc. Ferrous products, zinc, chromium, and vary type of metal products Source: Pitchel (2005) Municipal Solid Waste Generation and Characteristics in Malaysia The quantity and characteristics of the solid waste generated is very significant in solid waste management planning (Tchobanoglous et. al. 1993). However, most of the studies on waste generation and characteristics are based on the solid waste collected and disposed in landfill. In the context of Malaysia, documentation of the data regarding municipal solid waste generation is still limited and uncompleted in some area as compared to the European countries (Latifah et. al. 2009). 194 The change in rate and pattern of solid waste generation is influenced by several crucial factors such as demography factors and urban lifestyle (Vergera and Tchobanoglous, 2012). Solid waste generation in Malaysia is estimated about 26 million tons in 2007. The composition of municipal solid waste is 30% from the total solid waste generated (Larsen, 2007). Statistics show nearly 50% of the municipal solid waste generated in Malaysia is comes from household followed by commercial waste, street cleansing, institutional, industry and construction (Saeed, 2009). Table 3 shows the municipal solid waste generation in Malaysia’s City Center since 1970 until 2002. The pattern of solid waste generation at West Peninsular Malaysia City center is increase dramatically compare to the city center in the east peninsular Malaysia. This condition shows the urbanization process is rapidly occur in west peninsular Malaysia as compared to east peninsular Malaysia. Moreover, average of solid waste generated by per person per day in Malaysia is between 0.5 kg to 0.8 kg at rural and small town, whiles average of solid waste generated per person per day at urban area is around 1.9 kg (Latifah et. al. 2009). This figure is estimated to keep increasing as the urbanization process continuous in Malaysia. Table 3: Municipal Solid Waste Generation in Urban Centres of Peninsular Malaysia Urban Centres Kuala Lumpur Johor Bahru Ipoh Georgetown Klang Kuala Terengganu Kota Bharu Kuantan Seremban Melaka 1970 98.9 41.1 22.5 53.4 18.0 8.7 9.1 7.1 13.4 14.4 Solid Waste Generated (tons/day) 1980 1990 310.5 586.8 99.6 174.8 82.7 162.2 83.0 137.2 65.0 122.8 61.8 121.0 56.5 102.9 45.2 85.3 45.1 85.2 29.1 46.8 2002 2754.0 215.0 208.0 221.0 478.0 137.0 129.5 174.0 165.0 562.0 Source: Agamuthu et. al. (2009) Composition of municipal solid waste might be deferent as well as variable depend on the area. However, organic waste is the main composition which generated nearly 50% of the total municipal solid waste followed by plastics, paper, metal and glass. This condition is quite similar as occurring in most of developing countries which the organic waste is the main solid waste composition as compared to the developed countries (World Bank, 1999a). Table 4 shows the pattern of municipal solid waste composition generated in Malaysia since 1975 until 2005. The generation of organic wastes is reducing 18.9% in 2005 as compared to the year 1975. Besides that, the generation of inorganic waste is increasing in average nearly 7% in 2005 which lead by plastics waste followed by paper and glass waste. This change of solid waste composition pattern and characteristics reflects the change of nature lifestyle of the Malaysian population during this period. 195 Table 4: Percentage (%) of the Solid Waste Composition in Malaysia since 1975 until 2005 Physical Composition Organic Inorganic Others Type of Solid Waste Food/garden Paper Plastics Glass Metal Others 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 63.7 % 7.0 % 2.5 % 2.5 % 6.4 % 17.9 % 54.4 % 8.0 % 0.4 % 0.4 % 2.2 % 34.6 % 48.3 % 23.6 % 9.4 % 4.0 % 5.9 % 8.8 % 48.4 % 8.9 % 3.0 % 3.0 % 4.6 % 32.1 % 45.7 % 9.0 % 3.9 % 3.9 % 5.1 % 32.4 % 43.2 % 23.7 % 11.2 % 3.2 % 4.2 % 14.5 % 44.8 % 16.0 % 15.0 % 3.0 % 3.3 % 17.9 % Source: Agamuthu et. al. (2009) Municipal Solid Waste Management System in Malaysia: A Situational Analysis In general, the crucial elements in solid waste management system are the storage, collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal (Seow Ta Wee, 2009). In the context of Malaysia, solid waste management is begins from the storage at household or commercial center or storage center within municipal area. After that, is the collection and transportation of solid waste before proceed into treatment phase. Solid wastes that disable to treat will be disposed at landfill. In fact, solid waste management system practiced in Malaysia is quite similar to the developed countries. However, efficiency of the solid waste management system is main constraint existed in Malaysia and most of developing countries (Seow Ta Wee, 2012; Jha et. al. 2011). Storage Municipal solid waste storage in Malaysia can be divided into two phase. In the first phase, solid waste is stored temporary by the waste generators near its generation point. Usually, the waste is packed using small or medium plastic bag before transfer into big garbage bag. The reused of plastic bag as a temporary garbage bag is not a new phenomenon in Malaysia. It has been practiced for many decades. However, segregation of recyclables is not practiced by Malaysian household (Goh Ban lee, 2011). Most of the household’s waste like food waste, plastic waste and glass waste is discarded into garbage bags. In the second phase, the solid waste is kept outside of the houses, premises, offices, or factories until it is collected by the waste collectors. Usually, all the wastes are deposited into garbage bins that have been provided or purchased. For the landed property owners, they are compulsory to purchase a suitable waste bin from the local authorities in reasonable price. Besides that, properly designed bins are provided to premises and residential area like apartment and illegal settlement. However, in some cases, the bins or containers are poor in maintenance which resulting the damage of the bins. Some households just leave the garbage bags by the street side because the bins and containers are unusable. Hence, it has given an opportunity to the stray animals like dog and cat to scatter the wastes along the street. 196 Collection and Transportation Collection and transportation of solid waste is a crucial phase in solid waste management system. In fact, privatization of solid waste collection and transportation services in Malaysia has been embarked since 1980 in some places (Goh Ban Lee, 2011). The objective of this privatization is to enhance the solid waste management practices. Hence, private collectors have to register their company including the facilities used with the local authorities. In Malaysia, more than 80% of the municipal solid wastes were able to be collected. Besides that, nearly 60% of the rural solid wastes were able to be collected. The different of solid waste collection and transportation services at urban and rural area is quite obvious. Generally, collection of solid waste in Malaysia is depending on the area and situation. For instant, collection of waste is conducted daily except Sunday at commercial area and apartment. In public market, collection of wastes is conducted daily including Sunday. Collection of waste only conducted three times a week on alternate days at landed property owners. For special occasion day like the festivals, solid waste collection and transportation is increased as compared to normal day. Moreover, garden waste collection is only provided in some areas such as in Penang which known as a special service. This service is only available once a week or as per requested. The issue of ineffective collection and transportation services in Malaysia is continuous debated. Privatizing of the municipal solid waste collection and transportation is look likes not achieving its objectives. Hence, it is not surprise to know that several states like Penang, Selangor and Perak have refuse for collection privatization by Concession Company. This crisis has occurred because of local authority is not satisfy with the quality of services and cost of the operation. Three concession companies have appointed in municipal solid waste services are Alam Flora Sdn. Bhd. (central area), SMW Environment Sdn. Bhd. (south area), and E-Idaman Sdn. Bhd. (north area). Treatment and Disposal In general, all solid wastes are collected by collection vehicles before send to transfer station for treatment and compaction. There are few of transfer station in Malaysia like at Jinjang Hill (Kuala Lumpur), Ampang Jajar (Penang) and Batu Maung (Penang). Segregation of recyclables is practiced in some transfer stations. However, segregation of the recyclables is practiced as an informal activity. In fact, there are several issues emerged at transfer stations in Batu Maung such as no solid waste compaction. All the solid wastes just transferred to the containers and disposed at landfill without any compaction. The purpose of compaction is to reduce the size of solid waste before dispose at landfill. Hence, the area of landfill can be used as maximum as possible. Landfilling is main disposal method in Malaysia for many decades. However, Malaysia is facing serious landfill problems like used beyond its capacity, overflowing of landfill site, no facility for 197 venting gas, no leachate treatment, unsuitable of landfill site, and shortage of land (Seow Ta wee, 2009; Goh Ban Lee, 2011). However, there are some initiatives like privatization of landfill operation for a better management. For example Alam Flora has been appointed to manage Kundang landfill at Selangor and Idaman Bersih has been appointed to manage Pulau Burung Landfill at Penang. Through this privatization, some of landfill’s facilities have been ungraded to level 3 and level 4 facilities. Level 3 facility of landfill is equipped with leachate circulation system and the level 4 facility is equipped with leachate treatment facilities (World Bank, 1999b). Moreover, Malaysian government is now considering the usage of incinerators. The cost of its operation is quite expensive which about MYR 600 daily and the price for each incinerator is about MYR 2.5 million. An incinerator is capable to incinerate 5 to 10 tons of solid waste per day (World Bank, 1999b). Malaysian federal government is very commitment to apply incinerator as an alternative of solid waste disposal by purposing a huge incinerator at Broga, suburbs of Kuala Lumpur. However, there are protests among the civilians and environmental activists even it has been approved by the Department of Environment in Malaysia. As the result the incinerators program in Malaysia is still delayed as well as unaccomplished. Transition of Municipal Solid Waste Management in Malaysia In the past, solid waste management in Malaysia is like other countries which a responsibility of local authority. This decentralization phenomenon is not uncommon for many countries to stimulate greater competition and efficiency in management (Francis, 2010). Local authority play an important role on land and it has responsibility for the allocation of land for landfills and other facilities (Nadzri and Larsen, 2012). Unfortunately, the management of solid waste by the local authorities gave rise of increasing criticism from the public due to poor quality in some places. The quality of the service was very unequal among the local authorities because of the limited funding resources, lack of human resources in handling the latest technologies for disposal and treatment of solid waste (Agamuthu et. al. 2009). Local government has provided a large amount of financial provision for solid waste management, ranging from 15% to 50% of their annual budget. However, most of the urban solid waste management is still facing many problems. The level of solid waste management is unsatisfactory and dangerous (Mohd Nasir, 1999; Agamuthu et. al. 2009). The phenomenon of inefficiency and ineffectiveness in the solid waste management is not a new phenomenon occurring in the cities of Malaysia. The problem of solid waste pollution continues to rise reflect of the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of solid waste management system which including solid waste storage, collection, transportation and disposal (Mohd Nasir, 1997; Nadzri and Larsen, 2012). Privatization of solid waste services like collection, transportation and disposal is look like a solution of this problem. Hence, since 1997, solid waste management has been privatized by some of local authorities to two concession companies which are Alam Flora Sdn. Bhd. at central area and Southern Waste Sdn. Bhd. at south area. At that time, privatization of solid waste at northern area of Peninsular Malaysia is under interim regime. However, in 2004, E-Idaman Sdn. 198 Bhd is appointed to manage solid waste services at northern area. In fact, this privatization of solid waste management is effective to reduce the financial pressure on the local authorities. However, some of the services conducted by private sector still receive plenty of complaint and criticism by the civilians. 3R Policy (Reduction, Reuse, Recycling) Action Plan for a Beautiful and Clean Malaysia (ABC) - 1988 Restructuring of Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Master Plan on National Waste Minimization Years 8th Malaysia Plan 1991 2006 2001 1988 th 10 Malaysia Plan 2010 2005 2011 2015 th 9 Malaysia Plan Introduction of Malaysia Vision 2020 3rd outline Perspective Plan (2001-2010) National Strategic Plan for Solid Waste Management *Gazette of Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation Act (Act 673) and Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act (Act 672) Enforcement of Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act (Act 672) *Establishment of National Solid Waste Management Department & Introduction of National Solid Waste Management Policy Figure 1: Timeline of Solid Waste Management Transition in Malaysia, Source: Sreenivasan et. al. (2012) Malaysian government has comes up with several strategies and plans toward effective solid waste management. Figure 1 depicts the transition of solid waste management in Malaysia that influenced by plenty of plans, strategies, policy and legislation. Since early 1988, Malaysian government has introduced Action Plan for a Beautiful and Clean Malaysia (ABC). In this plan, strengthening of local authority is emphasized in the context of effective solid waste management system. Besides that, local authorities should prepare a municipal solid waste management plan and implemented effectively as possible including its periodical revision. The solid waste services such as collection, transportation and disposal should consider the public and workers health, the vitality of environment and viability of financial. Moreover, recycling activity also has emphasized in this ABC plan to recover as many resources as possible. The proposed policy under this ABC plan is to produce an integrated national municipal solid waste system which is environmentally sounds and socially acceptable. Unfortunately, this policy was 199 not officially endorsed by the national council of local government. However, most of the plans from ABC have been consider in National Strategic Plan on Solid Waste Management which officially adopted in Malaysia in 2005. In the 3rd outline perspective plan (OPP3), Malaysian government has considered to adopt incinerators for efficient solid waste disposal. Besides that, 3R policy has been re-launched by Ministry of Housing and Local Government as an initiative for solid waste reduction. At that time, the recycling rate among Malaysian is too low which is below 5% (Sreenivasan et. al. 2012). The National Strategic Plan for solid waste management has provided the basis point for solid waste management policies in Peninsular Malaysia. It has covered the scope of municipal solid waste in Peninsular Malaysia which including solid waste generated from public cleansing activities, household, institutional, commercial, construction and industrial. The key strategy of this plan is to attain sustainable solid waste management through reduction, re-use and recycling and using an appropriate technologies, facilities, and equipment. Six strategies has been formulated in this national strategy which to guide solid waste legislative, institutional and infrastructural planning in Malaysia. The six strategies of this national plan are: i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. Determination of solid waste management priorities (Reduce, Reuse, Recover, and Disposal) Rapid and comprehensive development of the necessary legal and institutional framework (adoption of privatization policy for solid waste management services) Development of public participation in solid waste management Provision of sustainable technologies to manage solid waste in Malaysia (the technologies used are affordability, operated by skilled workers, and consider local condition and environment) A comprehensive approach to develop the waste reduction, reuse, recovery elements of solid waste management (full participant from all main players) A socially acceptable solid waste management system that calls for substantial initial government intervention with gradual shift towards full cost recovery (financial plan that meet urgent requirements without social inequalities and full cost recovery by year 2020) Source: Ministry of Housing and Local Government, Malaysia (2005) Moreover, this strategic plan also has provided a roadmap for implementing its action plan. The action plan in this roadmap has covered the regulatory and technical services with regard to sustainable solid waste management. In general, National Strategic Plan for solid waste management has provided a framework for solid waste management legislation, solid waste management master plan, solid waste minimization master plan, and solid waste management facilities master plan. However, this strategic plan need to be reviewed and updated to suit the current legislation, composition of the current municipal solid waste, and solid waste institutional structure at present. The study on National Waste Minimization has been conducted by Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA). As the result, master plan for National Waste Minimization has been launched in 2006. The objective of this master plan is to minimize the amount of solid waste disposed in Malaysia by providing all the stakeholders with clear vision, strategies and roles. The master plan for National Waste Minimization is part of the National Strategic Plan for solid waste management that has been introduced a year before. Further, this master plan is 200 covers Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia which applicable to all states and federal territories. The vision of this master plan is to realize a material cycle society in Malaysia. Table 5 shows the national solid waste minimization targets by the year 2020. The strategies of this master plan are: i. ii. iii. Enhancement of awareness on waste minimization Strengthening of partnership for 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycling) activities Enhancement of institution to strengthen government policies on waste minimization Source: Japan International Corporation Agency (2006) Table 5: National Recycling Target in Specific Sectors by the year 2020 Source of Solid Waste Recycling Target by the year 2020 Municipal, Commercial, Industry 14% Construction 30% Source: Ministry of Housing and Local Government, Malaysia (2005) Department of National Solid Waste Management was established under Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act (Act 672) which gazetted on 30 August 2007. This department is coordinated under Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government. All the legislation related to solid waste management such as Local Government (amendment) Act 2007 (Act A1311), Street, Drainage and Building (amendment) Act 2007 (Act A1312), and Town and Country Planning (amendment) Act 2007 (Act 1313) are now vested on the federation by Act 672. The uniformity of these Acts is involved throughout Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territories of Putrajaya and Labuan. The Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act (act 672) has given executive authority to the federal government in implementing solid waste management and public cleansing. The purpose of this department is to integrate the national solid waste management system which including collection, transportation, and disposal. Further, national solid waste management policy has been formulated under this department. The aims of the national solid waste management policy is i) to establish an integrated solid waste management system which is holistic, cost effective, socially acceptable and sustainable which is emphasizes the environment conservation, affordable technology and securing the public health, ii) to implement solid waste management based on solid waste hierarchy which emphasizes waste minimization through 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycling), solid waste treatment and final disposal. Further, to clarify the national solid waste management policy goal, several objectives have been formulated which are: i. ii. iii. A solid waste management that is integrated and cost effective, which includes collection, transportation, intermediate treatment and disposal Minimization of solid wastes from the domestic, commercial, industries, institutions community and construction through 3R Services that are efficient and cost effective through privatization 201 iv. v. vi. Selection of technologies that are proven, affordable in terms of capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operational expenditure (OPEX), and environment friendly technologies Ensure conservation of the environment and public health Establish institutional and legal framework for solid waste management Source: National Solid Waste Management Department, Malaysia (2014) The transition of solid waste management has proved that the Malaysian government is striving to improve solid waste management practices towards sustainability. In fact, all the plans and strategies with regard to waste minimization through 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycling) programs in Malaysia have meet the dead end. However, Malaysian government did not take those failures as an excuse to not improve the existing programs. Hence, new initiatives have been introduced continuously to improve the program effectiveness as suited with the current situation. An Insight towards Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management in Malaysia The vision of Malaysia as a developed nation in 2020 has changed the Malaysian paradigm towards first class thought. In the context of waste management, the transition of solid waste management policy and legislation in Malaysia has showed that Malaysia is in the right direction towards sustainable solid waste management. Sustainable municipal solid waste management requires a deep understanding on the waste system, material balance and flow along with proper knowledge and willingness by stakeholders. Hence, plenty of plans, concepts, policies and legislation have been introduced in Malaysia. For example, waste minimization concept has become a main direction of many countries including Malaysia itself towards sustainable solid waste management. As the result, waste minimization concept becoming more preferable option in Malaysia’s waste hierarchy. However, the waste hierarchy that used has lack of scientific and technical basis (Seow Ta Wee, 2009). Hence, integrated solid waste management has been used by Malaysian government to intervene the solid waste management system (Seow Ta Wee, 2012). The technologies and policies approach have been used as a tool to ensure sustainability in each phase of solid waste management system which including the solid waste generation phase, collection phase, sorting and treatment phase, and final disposal. In fact, there are constraints like technical limitation, unstable economic condition, lack of social responses and ineffective policy implementation need to be coped effectively. For Example, characterization of the municipal waste stream should be useful to find out the suitable strategy for sustainable waste management program such as waste recycling, waste reduction, waste composting and waste to energy program. Moreover, capacity building is a crucial element to enable the stakeholders understands and tackles the crisis that we are faced in solid waste management nowadays. The institutional capacity building framework should involve the municipal authorities, administration, corporate bodies, non-government organizations (NGO) and educational institutes (Jha et. al. 2011). Each of stakeholders needs to play a pivotal role towards sustainable municipal solid waste management. The municipal authorities and administration should pay attention on the identified the gap areas in solid waste management system, establish the progressive solid waste management plans and strategies, and developing the effective legislation and policy with regard to solid waste 202 management. The corporate bodies should contribute on the corporate social responsibility (CSR) to support the government programs and activities towards sustainable solid waste management. The private parties that involve in waste management should provide the better services and efficient operational. In addition, these private parties should be functioning beyond the prevailing condition to improve solid waste management system in Malaysia. Besides that, the non-government organizations (NGO) and education institutes should be involved in the awareness programs, knowledge sharing, and reviewing on the current functioning of waste management. Hence, integrated of these multilateral initiatives is significant to ensure sustainability of the municipal solid waste management in Malaysia. Conclusion Malaysian government has striven toward effective solid waste management by establishing a proper solid waste management legislation and system. Legislation, institutions, goals and objectives of solid waste management in Malaysia have been prepared and formulated. Technically, evolution of municipal solid waste management in Malaysia would enhance social tranquility, economic stability and environmental efficiency. However, high levels of commitment from all stakeholders in solid waste management are desperately required. There is no doubt that plenty of solid waste management strategies and plans have been structured in Malaysia. The only difficulty is to adopt them effectively on the ground. The awareness among Malaysian on solid waste is still concerned. The Malaysian government is still envisages that privatization of solid waste management is a solution. In fact, the solid waste services provided by the concession companies in Malaysia have always been criticized. Further, recycling is the only mechanism promoted in Malaysia to reduce the solid waste before send to landfills. At present recycling rate among Malaysian is 5% which is still low as compared to neighboring countries. Hence, assessment and test of the policies and systems against its suitability within local context is crucial as many policies have negligible impact once it has documented. Besides that, for the long term policy development, the social elements like lifestyle and demographic change need to be considered in the policies. Cooperation with the international organizations such as Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) would be beneficial for developing countries like Malaysia to compete with their level of solid waste minimization programs. Acknowledgement Special thanks are extended to the Office for Research, Innovation, Commercialization and Consultant Management (ORICC), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia for providing adequate financial assistance in this study. 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