From Urban Kitchens to Landfills: Transforming Food Waste for Malaysia’s Health and Sustainability

Abstract

Food waste is a pressing global issue that poses significant challenges to the environment, economy, and society, particularly regarding food security and resource sustainability. In Malaysia, food waste constitutes the largest segment of municipal solid waste, exacerbating landfill burdens and contributing to severe pollution, including greenhouse gas emissions such as methane and leachate. This manuscript presents a comprehensive study that qualitatively analyzes interviews conducted with Malaysian industry experts from the hospitality and food manufacturing sectors, as well as academics and government representatives, alongside a review of existing literature. This study aims to map the prevalence of food wastage, identify its causes, and examine the implications of food waste in Malaysian urban households and the hospitality and food service (HaFS) sectors. The findings indicate that while larger companies often implement commendable internal waste management practices driven by Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria, substantial food waste persists in the HaFS sector. This waste primarily arises from operational inefficiencies, overproduction, and consumer behaviour. Crucially, the study highlights systemic shortcomings in Malaysia's governance of food waste, including the absence of mandatory reporting, ineffective incentives or penalties, poor data management and enforcement coordination, and a general lack of public awareness. To address these issues, this paper proposes transformative mechanisms to help achieve Malaysia’s sustainable development goals. These include enforcing stronger policies, mandating data tracking, and establishing robust regulatory frameworks. Enhanced public-private collaboration among government, industry, and academia is recommended to develop integrated waste-to-resource solutions. Moreover, innovative technologies, such as advanced composting and Black Soldier Fly (BSF) bioconversion, play a vital role in effectively diverting organic waste. Finally, ongoing public awareness and educational initiatives are essential to foster responsible consumer behaviours and proper waste segregation practices. This interdisciplinary approach aims to propel Malaysia toward a circular economy, yielding benefits for environmental sustainability and overall well-being.