Separate your food waste, clean before you recycle - NRES

PUTRAJAYA - Separating food waste from plastic containers and rinsing them before disposal remains one of the most basic, yet frequently overlooked, practices in recycling.

Mohd Husaini Saidi, Senior Assistant Secretary (Circular Economy Unit) at the Natural Resources Management Division of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), said many consumers still assume all plastics can be recycled without prior sorting or cleaning.

He noted that plastic containers contaminated with food or drink residues are typically unsuitable for recycling and often end up in landfill.

"Plastic intended for recycling should at least be rinsed or lightly cleaned to prevent contamination. If plastics are dirty or mixed with food waste, it disrupts the recycling process. That is why we encourage the public to separate food waste and plastics into different bags.

"This simple step is especially important during festive periods such as Aidilfitri, when the use of food containers, plastics and disposable items tends to rise," he told Bernama in a recent interview.

According to Mohd Husaini, consumers are also encouraged to check recycling symbols on the bottom or back of plastic products before purchasing them.

"These symbols are usually accompanied by numbers indicating the type of plastic and its recyclability,” he said, adding that not all plastics are easily processed, particularly materials prone to contamination, such as polystyrene food containers.

Meanwhile, he said the "Avoid Single-Use Plastics" campaign, reinforced under the theme "Be Plastic Smart, Save the Earth", aims to raise public awareness of responsible plastic use.

"The campaign focuses on two main priorities, namely reducing problematic plastic use and improving recycling practices," he said.

He stressed that plastics have many useful applications and are not inherently problematic, but should be used responsibly and only when necessary.

Mohd Husaini said items to avoid include plastic carrier bags, disposable plates and polystyrene cups, which are commonly used at events and open houses and contribute significantly to plastic waste.

As alternatives, he said consumers are encouraged to use reusable plates and cups, and to bring their own shopping bags to reduce reliance on single-use plastics.

"These efforts align with the government’s circular economy approach to reducing plastic waste and promoting more sustainable resource use," he added.

He noted that plastic waste is currently the second-largest waste stream in Malaysia after food waste, and takes a very long time to decompose if not properly managed.

At the same time, he said NRES is promoting the separation of food waste for composting, which can be used as fertiliser.

"NRES has also secured approval from the Ministry of Finance to provide income tax exemptions for the purchase of composting machines, as part of efforts to encourage more sustainable food waste management," he said.

According to a waste composition study by the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) covering 2022 to 2024, plastics account for an estimated 13 to 15 per cent of the country’s total solid waste, the second-highest component after food waste.

In 2024, Malaysia generated around 39,000 tonnes of solid waste daily, with plastic waste estimated at between 5,000 and 6,000 tonnes per day. - BERNAMA