Kuala Lumpur:Malaysia is collaborating with Japan to enhance its transition towards a circular economy, aiming for a 53 percent national recycling rate by 2035.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming announced that the partnership was formalized through a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed today. This MoC builds on over a decade of successful waste management initiatives between the two countries.

The cooperation highlights previous achievements such as the Strategic Plan for Food Waste Management in Malaysia 2010-2016 and the 2023 Technical Guidelines for Solid Waste Management Technologies. Nga emphasized the importance of renewing the partnership to continue advancing shared goals in sustainable waste management.

The agreement was signed after a meeting between Nga and Japan's State Minister of the Environment, Azemoto Shogo, at Malaysia's Parliament building. The signing was witnessed by Japan's Ambassador to Malaysia Shikata Noriyuki and Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Dr M Noor Azman Taib.

Nga outlined Malaysia's long-term strategy to improve solid waste management, including the establishment of the National Circular Economy Council (NCEC) and the introduction of the Circular Economy Blueprint for Solid Waste, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy, and Waste-to-Energy (WTE) technology.

He also noted that both nations aim to develop an efficient waste management ecosystem to enhance public well-being, bolster resource circulation, and support the transition to a low-carbon economy. Malaysia targets achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and looks forward to implementing more practical initiatives through capacity-building programs and technology transfer.