Concept of Recycling

Mr Kiyoshi Ueno, Fellow for the Centre for Research and Development Strategy, Japan Science and Technology Agency lectured us on the WEEE Recycling Regime in Japan last Wednesday. One of the interesting point brought forth was the difference between Recycling Ratio and Recovery Ratio of Waste. Comparatively, if both the ratio are high, then a 3R programme is highly effective. While recycling ratio is high but the recovery ratio is very low, then the 3R programme might not have achieved the desired result. Recycling ratio means recyclable waste over total waste collected whereas Recovery ratio means recoverable waste over the waste that can be recovered. Recycling and recovery are both important elements in 3R initiative. The residual left after the process of recycling and recovery should be negligible so that the burden of land fill can be lessen. In Malaysia, we are still in the infant stage of recovery although there are 17 licensed full recovery plants and 124 partial recovery plants. Due to technology know how and capacity or perhaps financial feasibility, many items such as mobile phones and camera are not being recovered yet. I was made to understand that manufacturers of these items although having strong CSR initiative are reluctant to collect these items as many of these items are not genuinely made by them.

I realise that is not only about turning waste into wealth, it is also about economy life cycle. The informal recyclers provide competition and cost advantage is making life difficult for the licensed recyclers, the imitated goods have the manufacturers distanced themselves from recycling activities, the extended producer responsibility might create unrest amongst the consumers who are the waste producer and many other considerations.

It is not that easy, I think after spending 20 days in Japan. Having said this, we have to start some where although with a small step or else waste problem will become a big challenge to Malaysia, economically, socially and environmentally. Some have suggested that we should think of creating a crisis for the recycling becoming a norm in life to happen. However, with the current political scenario in Malaysia now, I think it is rather difficult.