Payment for 3R

Mr H. Tani of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industries gave a lecture on the home appliances recycling system in Japan last Wednesday. Starting from year 2001, 4 types of home electrical appliances, namely the TV, washing machines, air-con and refrigerators are becoming the responsibility of the end-users to send back to the manufacturers for recycling. The end-users can either send it through the retailers or to the designated centres by making payment according to type of appliances. From early this year, another 2 types have been included, namely the plasma TV and washing dryers. The manufacturers will then determine either to reuse or to recycle the appliances. The components detached will use again for assembly or to convert into raw material for other uses.

The consumers have no choice, but to pay up. The disposal rate is 99% in which only 0.7% have gone to illegal dumping. I am thinking if similar scheme of consumers are charged disposal fee in Malaysia, we might end up of having more illegal dumping site with these bulky items. I do not think Malaysia are prepared to contribute for proper recycling and hence safeguarding our environment.

The concept of users paid during disposal stage is different from the EU initiated WEEE system. That system in build the disposal fee into the selling price at the initial stage. As consumers are normally forced to buy the items for household use, they have no choice but to pay up. Perhaps with our low level of awareness on recycling, this method is workable in Malaysia. Having said this, the chances of educating general public and hence inculcating a recycling society will be diminished. And, of course, the tax structure system has to revamp first and the possibility of malpractice cannot be discarded.

As Malaysian families is getting better quality of life now in which these appliances are becoming necessity rather than luxury items, the problem of treating these bulky waste is becoming urgent. Perhaps, it is necessary for us to look at having similar Act to tackle these.