Managing Household Hazardous Waste In Malaysia: Legal, Fiqh And Climate Perspectives
Abstract
Solid waste landfills release methane, a greenhouse gas that plays a role in the issue of global warming. Solid waste generation is a serious environmental problem that requires immediate attention. Effective waste management has become a national concern in Malaysia due to the country's massive annual generation of solid waste, including household hazardous waste. This is because improper waste management can have detrimental impacts on the environment, particularly on climate change and public health. The parties to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change are required to support and cooperate in specific initiatives that control, reduce, or prevent anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases in all relevant sectors, including the waste management sector, by considering their common but differentiated responsibilities. This article assesses Malaysia's legal framework for managing household hazardous waste in a sustainable manner, taking into account Fiqh perspective and the country's efforts to combat climate change and its effects on public health. This was achieved by employing the library research and interview techniques. The findings demonstrate that one of the challenges in addressing the negative environmental effects is the absence of specific legislation for household hazardous waste management in Malaysia. To foster sustainability in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is necessary to enhance the current legal framework and the institutional coordination among relevant agencies in Malaysia. This effort aligns not only with international sustainability commitments but also with the principles of Islamic jurisprudence, which underscore the importance of environmental stewardship and the preservation of public health. This article contributes in bridging legal and Fiqh insights to propose a more holistic framework for household hazardous waste management.
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