By Amanda L
KUCHING, Jan 13: Sarawak is set to transform how it manages waste by adopting a circular economy approach, turning municipal waste, industrial by-products, agricultural residues, and construction materials into resources that create both economic and environmental value.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said this strategy allows the State to see waste not as a problem but as a driver of innovation and growth, with recovery, reuse, and repurposing at its core.
The Premier explained that structured initiatives such as waste-to-energy and material recovery projects will reduce reliance on landfills and improve resource efficiency, while agricultural biomass and organic waste will be converted into bioenergy, biofertilisers, and other downstream products.
“These initiatives will generate additional income for rural communities and strengthen food and energy security, ensuring that development benefits reach all corners of Sarawak,” he said in his speech at the Majlis Amanat Perdana Premier Sarawak 2026 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here today.
Abang Johari said the circular economy agenda will be implemented through partnerships, with state-owned enterprises anchoring key projects and the private sector scaling commercially viable solutions.
He added that the strategy is supported by a carbon levy and the Climate Change Fund, which will reinforce revenue resilience while promoting sustainable growth.
“This approach allows Sarawak to balance economic transformation with environmental sustainability,” he said, noting that the circular economy forms a key pillar of the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 alongside economic prosperity and social inclusiveness. — DayakDaily
