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Successful workshop in Kuala Lumpur on behalf of the BMUV

 

As part of our ongoing BMUV contract, the plan to implement a workshop with the aim of supporting the development of a national circular economy strategy in Malaysia had long matured as a sub-project and was finally realized in July. In preparation for the workshop, talks were held between RETech and a delegation from the partner association, the Waste Management Association of Malaysia (WMAM), at IFAT Munich in May 2024. 

These discussions culminated in a successful workshop in Kuala Lumpur on July 16 and 17, which brought together key players from business and politics. The aim was to develop approaches and needs to support the development of a national circular economy strategy. RETech and its network involved German experts from the entire waste value chain. The delegation included Dr. Armin Vogel (SSI Schäfer Plastics GmbH), Michael Ludden (Sutco RecyclingTechnik GmbH), Jana Brinkmann (cyclos GmbH), Sascha Holler (GreenCycle GmbH / PreZero International), Henning Ehrenberg (Naue GmbH & Co. KG) and Simon Götz (Wehrle-Werk AG).  The delegation was also supported online by the BMUV.

On the first day of the event, various workshops and presentations were on the agenda and interesting discussions between the participants began during the coffee breaks. The second day was characterized by a lively three-hour discussion in which the necessary steps to promote development in Malaysia were determined. The program was rounded off with a tour of a materials recovery facility by Alam Flora Environmental Solutions, which focused on public capacity building. 

We look back on two intensive and successful days with around 50 experts and insightful discussions in which further steps and needs, especially in financing issues, were identified. Our special thanks go to Mr. Ho De Leong (WMAM), Mun Kaik Tsia (WMAM), Angie Leong (SSI SCHAEFER) and Patricia Chin.

Our main takeaways:

  • There are already well-developed foundations in place, such as a good political framework, collection systems, paper recycling and societal motivation. 
  • Critical issues that need to be addressed include establishing a sustainable financing system that considers Malaysian conditions to create more infrastructure in the sense of a circular economy. 
  • Dumpsites are a severe problem that needs to be addressed. 
  • Food waste as part of the organic waste stream is the biggest waste stream and of great concern. 
  • Harmonization of actions in the different regions would be helpful, as well as broader capacity building and greater involvement of society. 
  • The most critical question is about financing schemes beyond EPR, where we can contribute decades of experience. These are amongst others the next steps we want to work on together.