has undertaken many initiatives , the promising results are still far from expectations . The awareness campaigns are a good start for many organisations , but they should be taken to the next level such as practices where tangible results can be seen . Awareness programmes such as 3Rs have been practised for almost 30 years but tangible results cannot be seen comprehensively . Therefore , legislation and policy interventions should progressively take place strategically . The national agenda should be strengthened on plastic waste issues .
Some of the efforts that could assist towards the success of plastic waste transition to a circular economy in Malaysia are :
1 . Eco-friendly alternative materials or products to replace conventional plastics need to be identified urgently .
2 . Implementation of efficient waste take back policies such as the Extended Producer Responsibility ( EPR ) or Product Stewardship that suit the Malaysian culture .
3 . Balancing plastic recycling awareness with stick approaches such as pay-as-you-throw or additional disposal fees .
4 . Development of recycling technologies for plastic including the smart waste separation system .
5 . Collaboration between the Government and the private sector in utilising modern capabilities and expertise to transform the plastic linear economy into a circular economy .
6 . Reward systems for companies that achieve the circular economy goals ( e . g ., levies or tax exemptions )
In a nutshell , a plastic circular economy roadmap has to be in place to address plastic production , consumption , recycling , and waste management and to keep plastic products and materials circulating in a state of use for as long as possible , while offering new ways to mitigate risks to allow the plastics industry to grow and diversify . Additionally , the Malaysian Government
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