KUALA LUMPUR – The use of personal protective equipment and Covid-19 test equipment in managing Covid-19 patients at healthcare facilities and quarantine centres have contributed to an increase in clinical waste generated last year compared with 2019.
Chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the quantity of clinical waste generated last year rose 18.1% to 39,883.32 metric tonnes (MT), compared with 33,756.99 MT in 2019.
He said the three states that recorded the highest clinical waste generation last year were Selangor with 9,703.41 MT, followed by Sarawak (4,101.96 MT) and Kuala Lumpur (4,073.19 MT).
“The quantity of controlled waste generated by industries was 7,185,227.76 MT last year, a 79% rise compared with 4,013,189 MT reported in 2019.
“The rise was from the power generation plant and water treatment plant industries, which were categorised as essential services,” he said in a statement today, commenting on the Compendium of Environment Statistics, Malaysia 2021 published by the Statistics Department.
In terms of states, Selangor contributed the highest amount of scheduled waste at 28.5%, followed by Johor (16.8%), and Negri Sembilan (16.2%).
Uzir said throughout the enforcement of the movement control order (MCO) last year, the country recorded more days of “good” and “moderate” air quality status.
Air Pollution Index readings showed a decrease in air pollutant levels, especially in major cities such as Pasir Gudang, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, and Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, he said.
“The decline is due to the reduction of activities and less emission of pollutants into the air such as motor vehicle smoke emissions, industrial chimney smoke emissions, and open burning activities,” he said.
Additionally, air pollutant substances such as particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, and sulphur dioxide showed a declining trend during the implementation of the MCO and conditional MCO.
However, air pollutant substances increased during the recovery MCO as more businesses were allowed to operate and movement was less restricted.
Uzir said the MCO also affected river water quality last year. Based on results from the Environment Department monitoring 144 river basins, 104 or 72.2% of river basins were in the clean category compared with 85 recorded in 2019.
Metered water consumption for the domestic sector, however, increased by 5.2% last year due to new norms such as working from home, home-based learning programmes, and MCOs that restricted people to their residences.
“Consumption for the non-domestic sector, however, decreased by 8% last year compared with 2019 as some businesses were closed entirely throughout the first MCO, while others were restricted to limited business hours,” he said.
The Compendium of Environment Statistics, Malaysia 2021 presents environmental statistics on six components – environmental conditions and quality; environmental resources and their use; residuals; extreme events and disasters; human settlements and environmental health; as well as environmental protection, management and engagement.
The compilation of these statistics is based on the 2013 United Nations Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics. – Bernama, November 29, 2021
