PETALING JAYA: Nearly 40% of the trash that Malaysians dump in landfills comprises materials with recycling potential, says the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp).
Figures from SWCorp show that plastics make up the largest portion, accounting for 20.55% of landfill waste.
The second biggest recyclable material is paper at 10.17%, followed by glass (2.96%), and metal (2.56%).
The agency noted that the exact volume of recyclables ending up in landfills cannot be determined, as contamination and limited recycling technology prevent some materials from being processed for recycling.
As countries marked Earth Day on April 22, SWCorp said Malaysia’s national recycling rate stood at 37.9% in 2024, up from 35.38% in 2023.
In a previous report by The Star, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said solid waste generation in the country stood at 15.2 million tonnes in 2024, and is projected to increase to 15.38 million tonnes in 2025, before rising further to 17.03 million tonnes by 2035.
While the government targeted a 40% national recycling rate by 2025 under the 12th Malaysia Plan, SWCorp said the actual figure has yet to be announced and will only be disclosed during National Recycling Day.
Data provided by the agency shows that plastic, paper, and metal remain the dominant materials recycled in Malaysia.
In 2024, about 2.04 million tonnes of plastic were collected for recycling, followed by 1.77 million tonnes of metal and 1.49 million tonnes of paper.
Glass and other materials contributed far smaller amounts, at 10,177 tonnes and 96,192 tonnes, respectively.
In terms of recycling rates by category, plastics accounted for 14.28% in 2024, while metal and paper represented 12.43% and 10.43%, respectively.
Recycling rates for glass and other materials remained low.
Despite these gains, a significant portion of materials with recycling potential continues to escape the system and ends up in landfills.
In response, SWCorp Malaysia has rolled out a range of initiatives to boost the country’s national recycling rate, including extensive public awareness campaigns and the expansion of recycling infrastructure.
In 2025, the agency conducted 14,650 awareness programmes targeting children, students, communities and industry players to foster a stronger recycling culture across society.
It also increased the number of recycling centres under Act 672 to make recycling more accessible, with facilities rising from 5,589 in 2024 to 6,152 in 2025, an addition of 563 centres.
Looking ahead to 2026, SWCorp has outlined a series of initiatives to strengthen recycling and reduce dependence on landfills, though the official national recycling rate target has not been disclosed.
A major change is the inclusion of food waste in calculating the national recycling rate, a move expected to boost overall figures while diverting more waste from landfills.
To achieve this, SWCorp plans new food waste programmes, including a surplus food-sharing application and a proof of concept scheme for commercial food waste collection.
Collected food waste will be channelled to treatment facilities, such as black soldier fly processing centres and composting plants, which then process it into animal feed, compost, and soil conditioners.
Other planned measures include expanding recycling infrastructure, introducing Reverse Vending Machines, improving household separation-at-source compliance, and strengthening enforcement of waste regulations.
The agency will also continue promoting public awareness and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programme to ensure manufacturers are held accountable for the waste generated from their products, particularly packaging materials.
