Challenges in Enhancing Solid Waste Management towards Sustainable Environment: Local Council Perspectives

Abstract

The challenges in enhancing municipal solid waste management towards sustainable
environment is crucial and need to be determined from the local council perspective
in Malaysia. Sustainable environment is to preserve the current environment state of
affairs for the next generation by minimizing waste and establishing solutions to be
more productive with such waste. This is a qualitative research focusing on the current
management at three different levels: district, town and city. Four critical factors were
identified in this study which are data adequacy, policy management, solid waste
handling methods and environmental awareness as challenges in enhancing waste
management at the local council’s level. In conclusion, enhancing municipal solid waste
management is not only an environmental agenda, but it deeply contributes to the
overall sustainability of necessary areas in terms of energy and cost efficiency that can
lead to a cleaner and greener state with more positive repercussions.