Waste segregation awareness still too low, says deputy minister

PARLIAMENT | Public awareness of solid waste segregation has yet to reach a satisfactory level although the government has made this compulsory since September 2015.

Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad told the Dewan Negara today that under the law passed in 2016, action could be taken against those who do not segregate solid waste.

He said the government would continue carrying out advocacy campaigns to create public awareness of the importance of preserving the environment.

The deputy minister was replying to a supplementary question from senator Rabiyah Ali who wanted to know the extent of the 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) practices in solid waste segregation.

To Rabiyah's original question on the effectiveness of the regulation, Raja Bahrun said that as a result of awareness campaigns, the recycling rate in the country had improved from 15.7 percent in 2015 to 28.06 percent in 2019.

- Bernama