Malaysia promulgates regulations on management of construction solid waste

In Malaysia, “Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management (Scheme for Construction Solid Waste) Regulations 2018” (hereinafter referred to as the “Regulations”) were promulgated on October 31, 2018, becoming effective on November 1, 2018. The Regulations prescribe the requirements for the management of construction solid waste, providing obligations imposed on the generators, collectors, transporters, and treatment/disposal facilities of such waste.

The original text of the Regulations can be downloaded from the following URL.
https://jpspn.kpkt.gov.my/resources/index/user_1/Perundangan/peraturan_PSPPA/P.U.(A)279.pdf

The original text of “Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007”, which is the superordinate law of the Regulations, can be downloaded from the following URL.
https://jpspn.kpkt.gov.my/resources/index/user_1/Perundangan/Akta-akta/act672bm.pdf

The definitions of the waste covered by the Regulations

The construction solid waste covered by the Regulations can be classified into two categories as follows.

• Recyclable construction solid waste
• Other solid waste (residual solid waste)

The “recyclable construction solid waste” above is specified in the Second Schedule of the Regulations as follows.

• • Cement based material
  • Natural aggregate
  • Glass
  • Wood
  • Paper
  • Concrete
  • Metal
  • plastic

On the other hand, “other solid waste” refers to waste that cannot be recycled, reused, or composted.

Obligations of the construction solid waste generators

Construction solid waste generators (hereinafter referred to as the “Generators”) shall select a company to provide waste collection service appropriate to their region and the type of solid waste generated, under the provisions of the Regulations. Records of the selection process must be maintained. The Generators are required to segregate the solid waste and leave them at the collection sites in a manner that does not disturb others. They are also required to select appropriate places to store waste before they are collected (places that meet conditions such as not being affected by flooding, not being infested with insects or rats, not spreading various diseases, and not polluting soil, groundwater, and surface water), and to not store waste in excess of the storage capacity. In addition, the Generators shall retain records of collection services issued by the collection service providers for seven years.