Increasing population and tremendous urbanisation growth and other factors influence
directly the municipal solid waste (MSW) generation in Malaysia. The huge quantity of MSW
generation, particularly in Peninsular Malaysia, has increased from 16,200 tonnes per day in 2001 to
19,100 tonnes per day in 2005 or an average of 0.8 kg/capita/day. The amount increases yearly and
seems to grow in parallel with the urban areas in many Asian countries which are estimated to produce
approximately 8 million tonnes per day. Thus, this paper briefly discusses the scenario of MSW
generation in Malaysia. It focuses on the trends of MSW generation, the composition of MSW, the
contributing factors as well as the management problems occurring in Malaysia presently. In addition,
some updated statistical figures related to the MSW and management aspects are provided to clarify the
present situation and the government’s future planning.Recent development indicates that the Malaysian
government has taken forward to deal with such problems in MSW management across the municipalities
through closed dumping sites, upgrading existing conventional landfills to sanitary status, constructing
new transfer stations and giving serious priority for an alternative disposal system in the near future.
Moreover, the establishing a new national solid waste and public cleansing management corporation
and enacted a new specific regulations for solid waste and public cleansing management which
approved on September 2007 is also seen as a proactive step towards achieving the sustainability of
MSW management as a long term solution.