Starting 1 January 2025, all shopping malls across Malaysia will be required to provide recycling facilities as part of a nationwide initiative to improve plastic waste management.
Photo via Toppen
According to a report by Free Malaysia Today, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming confirmed that this move was approved by the National Local Government Council. He explained that shopping centres that do not comply with the new requirement may risk losing their eligibility for a business licence.
"Any shopping mall that does not provide recycling facilities will not be granted a business licence," said Nga during the winding-up session of the debate on the Street, Drainage and Building (Amendment) Bill 2025 in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
The bill, which aims to support environmental sustainability through updated urban infrastructure policies, was passed by voice vote. It was debated by 10 Members of Parliament from both the Government and the Opposition prior to its approval.
Some malls in Malaysia have already taken steps in this direction. IPC Shopping Centre and 1 Utama Shopping Centre, for example, have long offered recycling points for shoppers, setting a positive example for others to follow.
This new policy marks a significant step towards integrating sustainable practices into everyday public spaces and ensuring that waste management becomes a shared responsibility.
