Food waste during Ramadan increasing every year, says deputy minister

The amount of solid waste, in particular food waste, collected by the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) during Ramadan is increasing every year.

Deputy Local Government Development Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said 252,521 tonnes of solid waste were collected during Ramadan last year compared to 208,143 tonnes in 2019.

"The amount increases every year, and in the past five years, we have seen an increase of up to 21%. 

"From the ministry’s point of view, the first step is to reduce the amount of food waste.

"Based on the data provided, a total of 44.5% of the solid waste collected is food waste, and that number is quite substantial in terms of value," he told a press conference in Iskandar Puteri last night.