KUCHING: Waste management should be viewed not merely as an effort to reduce disposal, but rather as an approach to repurpose resources and create new economic value.

Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, stated that the 'Zero Waste Management 2.0' approach needs to be expanded to include the management of water, energy, carbon, industrial waste, construction materials, food waste, biomass and wastewater.

He noted that this shift is crucial for ensuring the effective use of available resources, particularly for Sarawak, which possesses abundant natural resources.

"The true transition is from waste management to resource management," he said while speaking at the Zero Waste Management 2.0 programme, themed 'Water Without Waste: From Resources to Responsibility' held at a hotel here on Monday.

Datuk Dr Hazland explained that the circular economy concept allows materials previously deemed waste to be re-evaluated as raw materials, recycled products, energy sources or new commercial opportunities.

He added that this approach could also reduce operating costs, stimulate innovation, boost productivity, attract responsible investment and create green jobs.

He emphasised that these efforts require collaboration among the government, industry, research institutions, the community and the financial sector to ensure that sustainability-related solutions could be increased in scale to a commercial level. -UKASnews