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"Electronic Waste in Sabah: Current Challenges, Government Initiatives, and Future Recommendations

Dr Haidy Henry Dusim

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Background �

In Malaysia, E-waste is categorized as Scheduled Wastes under the Code SW110, First Schedule, Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005.

E-waste is generally divided into two main types, according to its generation sources, i.e. E-waste generated from industrial sector and household e-waste.�

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Definition of E-waste�

E-waste” is electrical and electronic appliances that is broken, non-working or old/obsolete such as Television, Personal/ Desktop Computer, air conditioner, washing machine and refrigerator(DOE).�

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WHY WE SHOULD PROPERLY MANAGED E-WASTE IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANNER ?�

If e-waste is discarded without implementing environmentally sound manner such as into the river, landfill, burning or sent to informal sector, e-waste may endanger our life, affecting human health and causing deterioration of environmental quality

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Based on research, estimation shows Malaysia generates 24.5 million units of E-waste in 2025.

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24.5 million units of E-waste = 82 Petronas Twin Towers

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24.5 million units of E-waste = 2,450 Eiffel Towers

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Sabah collected 191,636kg of e-waste between 2016 and 2022. �

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Increased household e-waste
illegal importation or illicit trafficking of e-waste
the absence of effective prevention and reduction measures,
haphazard dumping and incorrect disposal of e-waste,
limited public awareness regarding the environmental and health hazards linked to the toxic components of e-waste,
the challenge of identifying and addressing illegal e-waste recycling operations.

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Government initiatives

Laws and enforcement
Collaboration with local government, community, NGOs.
Public awareness campaign
MyEwaste Application

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Laws and enforcement

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Collaboration with local government, community, NGOs.

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Public awareness campaign

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MyEwaste Application

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Future Recommendation

Creating a circular economy

Two key solutions to the e-waste problem have emerged: moving from a linear to a circular economy, and fostering digital sustainability, including creating more efficient IT.

The two solutions go hand in hand. In a circular economy, designers and manufacturers create products with the end of the products’ lives in mind. That means keeping products in use for as long as possible and then recycling the materials that go into them to minimise or even eliminate waste. Digital sustainability means adopting technology that has environmental, societal and financial benefits. Circularity is making this improved technology possible.

“Circularity is the next big frontier for digital sustainability. In today’s predominantly linear economy, the approach is take, make, waste. In a circular economy, the approach is reduce, reuse and recycle,” Ms Varma explains.