Cleaner production and sustainability: stakeholder pressure and the adoption of pollution prevention measures of industrial hazardous waste in Malaysia

Abstract

Abstract In Malaysia, related environment laws to comply is mainly Environmental Quality Act 1974. The Cradle to Cradle concept is practiced, where recycling and recovery are considered useful resources. The scheduled waste recycling companies are mostly located in Selangor, Pulau Pinang and Johor. Majority of the license issued is of the type of electronics waste. Regulated industries are expected to implement the environmental safety and health management programme to maintain their competitive edge. Hazard control actions are such as scheduled waste control and emission control. Safety management programmes must be integrated into the company daily activities. Workplace hazard is mandatory to be communicated to those who work with the risk. The employees must be trained to handle hazardous waste. Companies have to prepare emergency and crisis management against potential hazardous waste emergencies. Consequently, the benefits gained through improvement with technological investment offset are the main drivers for environmental management programme. In other words, this programme can improve the environmental aspects and performance using industrial engineering, improve natural resource efficiency, reduce energy costs as well as the costs of handling and disposing of hazardous waste, reuse alternative materials and reduce release of pollutants by recycling of waste. This study looks into the quantity of hazardous waste generated, as well as DOE court cases. The study shows the increasing trend of environmental protection expenditure especially on waste management, even though the chemical industry is generating lesser scheduled waste. DOE court cases are mainly related to licensing and water pollution. Many companies engage the services of scheduled waste facilities are located in Selangor, Johor and Pulau Pinang, though Cenviro operates the first integrated hazardous waste management centre in Malaysia. With the positive relationship between environmental performance and environmental care, the higher level of environmental performance achieved, the better will become the environmental quality. Environment performance of the manufacturing sector could be further improved by promoting environmental management programmes.