KUCHING (Nov 26): The Sustainable Resources and Wastes Management Bill 2025 marks a major shift towards a cleaner, smarter, and more efficient economy, said Datuk Dennis Ngau (GPS-Telang Usan).

He described the legislation, passed at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) on Tuesday, as a measured and forward-looking step that promotes sustainable resource use while opening new economic avenues for Sarawak.

“This Bill is not simply about bins and recycling targets, it is about our state leadership choosing to invest in a future that is cleaner, smarter, and more secure.

“It is about recognising that sustainability is not merely an environmental issue but an economic and social one. Importantly, it is to turn waste into opportunity,” he said when debating the Bill.

Dennis said the Bill offers a better alternative for waste management in the state and addresses long-overlooked opportunities “that have been right under our nose all this while”.

He added that the Bill creates a framework that rewards innovation, reduces environmental harm, and supports business growth, while giving local authorities and communities the tools to transition towards a more efficient and circular economy.

Citing palm oil waste as one of the state’s largest untapped resources, Dennis said a coordinated waste management authority could monetise by-products such as empty fruit bunches (EFB), palm oil mill effluent (POME), palm kernel shells (PKS), mesocarp fibres, fronds, trunks, biogas, biomass energy, fertilisers, compost, biochar, bioplastics, and fibre-based products.

“All of these materials have commercial value when processed properly. These developments are not only economically attractive, they also support our broader environmental objectives,” he said.

He emphasised that palm biomass opportunities are not limited to major industries but extend to longhouses, villages, and small towns across rural Sarawak.

“A coordinated state authority could unlock this value at scale.

“By passing this Bill we send a message that Sarawak is ready to transition to a circular economy, that we are committed to reducing carbon emissions, and that we are serious about safeguarding the natural environment that sustains us all,” he said.

Dennis added the Bill clearly defines a legal mandate and governance structure for waste management, which are crucial given Sarawak’s vast geography and administrative complexity.

He also called for the establishment of an integrated waste infrastructure suited to both urban and rural needs.

He stressed the importance of public education, calling for statewide campaigns on waste segregation, recycling, and food-waste reduction.

“Well-informed communities produce more manageable waste streams. Waste management succeeds when local behaviour aligns with policy,” he said.

Dennis also noted that the Bill reflects the state’s responsibility to future generations, ensuring long-term environmental, and economic stability.

“Sarawak faces growing waste management challenges due to rapid urbanisation, a widespread rural population, increasing industrial waste, and uneven service quality across councils.

“The establishment of the Sarawak Waste Management Authority will provide a centralised body to coordinate, regulate, and modernise waste management throughout the state,” he added.