MALAYSIA COUNTRY REPORT Waste Not Asia 2001, Taipei, Taiwan

Prepared by the Consumers’ Association of Penang

Solid Waste Disposal and Incineration. At present, the per capita generation of solid
waste in Malaysia varies from 0.45 to 1.44kg/day depending on the economic status of an
area. In general, the per capita generation rate is about 1kg/day. Malaysian solid wastes
contain very high organic waste and consequently high moisture content and bulk density of
above 200kg/m3. A recent study conducted in Kuala Lumpur has revealed that the amount of
organic wastes for residential area range from 62 to 72%. Disposal of solid waste is done
almost solely through landfill method. There are about 177 disposal sites in Peninsular
Malaysia. In most cases, open dumping is being practised and takes place at about 50% of
the total landfills.