25 November 2024 — The Ministry of Local Government and Housing (MLGH) Sabah in partnership with WWF-Malaysia, and with the support of Sabah CSO-SDG Alliance (SCSA), co-organised a symposium to address the critical issue of plastic pollution and solid waste management in Sabah and its impact on the environment.
Attended by policymakers, academia, the private sector, CSOs, and community members, the symposium served as a platform for diverse stakeholders to share insights and identify sustainable and effective ways to tackle plastic pollution-related issues in Sabah. Current plastic waste management initiatives led by different sectors (i.e public, private, community or CSO-led) in Sabah were showcased by representatives, while a forum discussed ways to enhance laws and policies to promote effective waste management and halt plastic leakage.
With an aim to implement robust plastic intervention strategies, particularly on managing, preventing, and reducing plastic waste leakage into the environment, the Minister announced that a Waste Recycling Council is to be established in Sabah.
“Our government is steadfast in our commitment to preserving the environment for our future generation. We believe in the power of collaboration, and together with other stakeholders, we will work tirelessly to refine our laws and policies aimed at reducing the plastic leakage into our ecosystems,” said YB Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Joachim Gunsalam, Minister of Local Government and Housing Sabah, in his opening statement.
Sabah Plastic Pitch: Tackling Plastic Crisis
Prior to the symposium, a state-wide competition “Sabah Plastic Pitch” was launched to encourage young Sabahans to identify and tackle plastic waste issues within their communities. The challenge aimed to understand how community members perceive plastic waste and their aspirations in solving the problem. At the symposium, three winners were announced, recognising their innovative ideas to address plastic pollution on small islands in Sabah:
Lato Lato Group from Omadal Island
Inspired by mangroves, they created a floating trash trap with used pipes and bottles, represented by youth leader Shima from the Iskul Sama diLaut Omadal.
Plastic Master Group from Mabul Island
Mabul Island is facing plastic pollution which is endangering local life. The group does beach clean-ups and converts used plastic into Eco-Bricks for crafts and decorations. Represented by Norman from Mabul Eco Youth)
3C Group from Sandakan
3C stands for Care, Constancy, & Congruence. The group proposes using ‘eco-enzyme’ made from composting fruit and vegetable waste to replace chemical cleaning agents, and using Eco-Bricks made from used plastics for furniture making.
See the video here, the early posting about Plastic Pitch on WWF-MY FB page and event report here
Urgent Need for Effective Plastic Waste Management in Sabah
“To safeguard our planet and future generations, we must turn good intentions into strong actions. Together, we must establish robust plastic waste management policies in Sabah, to prevent the plastic pollution from worsening,” said Dr. Henry Chan, WWF-Malaysia’s Senior Conservation Director.
The Sabah CSO-SDG Alliance Chairperson, Ruth Yap added “Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12) on Responsible Consumption and Production aims to minimise the environmental impact of plastics throughout its lifecycle by reducing plastic waste generation, promoting sustainable alternatives, shifting toward a circular economy, and ensuring the proper management of plastic waste, fostering more responsible and sustainable resource use.”
