KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 — In nearly two decades, Malaysia has produced a staggering 2.62 million metric tonnes (mt) of electronic waste (e-waste), enough to fill three-quarters of the Petronas Twin Towers. Between 2005 and 2023, e-waste generation has surged, with no signs of slowing down. This year alone, an estimated 24.5 million units of e-waste will be discarded.
KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 — In nearly two decades, Malaysia has produced a staggering 2.62 million metric tonnes (mt) of electronic waste (e-waste), enough to fill three-quarters of the Petronas Twin Towers. Between 2005 and 2023, e-waste generation has surged, with no signs of slowing down. This year alone, an estimated 24.5 million units of e-waste will be discarded.
E-waste includes discarded electronic devices such as mobile phones, computers, household appliances, and even industrial machinery. As technology advances, e-waste has become one of the fastest-growing waste streams globally, posing environmental and health risks if not managed properly.
Malaysia's e-waste management is governed by the Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005. The country operates 17 full recovery facilities and 106 partial recovery facilities. Full recovery plants extract valuable metals like gold, silver, and platinum, while partial recovery plants focus on materials like plastic, copper, and aluminum.
In 2023, Malaysia collected 65,280.14 mt of e-waste, with only 21.1 per cent recovered—slightly better than the global average of 17.4 per cent. Comparatively, Singapore recycles only 6 per cent of household e-waste, while China aims for a 50 per cent recycling rate by 2025.
Globally, e-waste reached 62 billion kg in 2022, with only 22.3 per cent formally recycled. If current trends continue, projections indicate 82 billion kg of e-waste by 2030, with recycling rates expected to decline unless stronger policies are implemented.
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