DOE TARGETS 3,000 TONNES OF ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD E-WASTE COLLECTION STARTING 2026

KLANG, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- The Department of Environment (DOE) is targeting an annual collection of 3,000 tonnes of household electronic waste (e-waste) nationwide from 2026, an increase from 2,000 tonnes collected this year.

Its director-general (DG), Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar said the target increase aligns with the growing use of electronic products among the public.

“This increase is in line with DOE’s efforts in collaborating with local authorities and other parties, such as shopping malls (to establish waste collection centres), making it easier for the public to drop off their e-waste.

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“Otherwise, they would have to send it directly to e-waste processing factories. Insya-Allah, we will increase these collection centres, and we have a website, ewaste.doe.gov.my, for the public to locate the nearest e-waste collection centre,” he said.

He told reporters this after opening the Jom E-Waste Carnival 2025 at AEON Mall Bukit Raja here today, held in conjunction with International E-Waste Day, celebrated annually on Oct 14.

The DOE created the e-waste website to make it easier for people to send in their e-waste, find nearby collection centres, and learn why managing e-waste in an environmentally protective way is important.

Wan Abdul Latiff said that in the 10 years since the household e-waste collection programme began, 13,363 tonnes of household e-waste have been collected, suggesting that many people still do not know about the programme.

To address this, he said the DOE continues to intensify public awareness campaigns to foster a community that is more conscious of e-waste management and promotes environmentally friendly recycling habits.

Wan Abdul Latiff said that the DOE will continue to strengthen the country’s e-waste management system based on the principles of Extended Producer Responsibility and Shared Responsibility, which require cooperation among all stakeholders in the e-waste value chain, from producers to consumers.

He said among the key DOE initiatives to improve household e-waste management was the implementation of mechanisms involving manufacturers, importers, consumers, registered collection centres and DOE-licensed recovery facilities.

“Additionally, engagement sessions are being held with industry players, local authorities, NGOs (non-governmental organisations), and consumer communities to further strengthen household e-waste management mechanisms.

“Moreover, the National E-Waste Collection Day, held on the last Saturday of every month nationwide, serves as a platform to educate the public on proper household e-waste management,” he also said.

Wan Abdul Latiff added that 157 household e-waste collection centres are currently registered nationwide with the DOE, and this number is expected to increase annually.

The Jom E-Waste Carnival 2025 is a one-day event from 10 am to 10 pm with activities like e-waste collection, colouring contests, fun quizzes, short talks, a visit from the e-waste mascot ‘E-Cha, exhibitions by partners, and prizes and souvenirs for visitors.

Present at the launch were Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES) deputy undersecretary of the Environmental Management Division Mahadi Sukarno, DOE deputy DG (Operations) Dr Norhazni Mat Sari, DOE deputy DG (Development) Azuri Azizah Saedon and DOE Hazardous Materials Division director Azlan Ahmad.

-- BERNAMA