Manufacturing industry waste

The manufacturing industry in Malaysia has experienced rapid development, and this is in line with Malaysia Vision 2020 policy, which has as its objective to be an industrialized country by 2020. This rapid development has resulted in an increase in the volume of industrial waste each year. Moreover, the production of toxic and hazardous chemicals in 1996 amounted to 632,521.31 metric tons annually (Department of the Environment, 1996). This is a serious issue, which needs special attention by all the key stakeholders. Manufacturing and industrial waste issues have a direct link to the efficient use of resources and affect the whole aspect of resource management in Malaysia. The current sectoral management approach needs to be looked at and there should be a move towards integrated and holistic management approaches. This will need the involvement and commitment of all stakeholders since this will integrate institutional, legislative and economic mechanisms, technology development and education programmes towards a better system for managing manufacturing industry waste.