Garbage Collection Services In Brunei: Who's Responsible?

Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a small country in Southeast Asia with a population of around 450,000 people. The country has faced challenges in effectively managing its waste, with a high percentage ending up in landfills and only a small portion being recycled or composted. While there are waste management services and recycling companies operating in Brunei, public cleanliness and responsible waste disposal remain issues. This has led to discussions about the role of individuals, businesses, and the government in keeping the environment clean and exploring more sustainable waste management solutions.

Waste management in Brunei

One of the key challenges in waste management in Brunei is the lack of a comprehensive policy framework. While there are acts that regulate waste disposal and management, there is a lack of a national policy specifying waste management matters. This has led to a lack of initiatives to segregate waste at the household level and insufficient recycling facilities in the country. The private sector plays a significant role in waste management, with companies like A Global Green Recycle collecting different types of discarded paper and boxes from large retailers and shipping them to neighbouring countries for recycling. However, there is a need for more collaboration between the private sector and the government to promote recycling and reduce waste.

The per capita solid waste generation rate in Brunei is 1.4 kg per day, the third highest among ASEAN countries. The waste is transported to the Sungai Paku landfill site, which receives an average of 500 tonnes of waste daily. The composition of waste in Brunei includes a significant amount of food waste, with 36% being food waste and 55% being recyclable materials such as paper, plastic, metal, glass, wood, and textiles. Oily waste from the industrial sector is also a significant component of the waste stream.

To address the waste management issues in Brunei, the study by Jaya Narayan Sahu and Nabisab Mujawar Mubarak proposes a framework that involves specific roles and responsibilities for different stakeholders. The Department of Environment, Park and Recreational (JASTRe) is assigned as the authoritative governmental agency responsible for controlling and enforcing waste management. The study also recommends promoting waste segregation at the source, increasing community awareness through environmental education, and providing economic incentives for recycling.

Overall, waste management in Brunei requires a multi-faceted approach that involves the collaboration of various stakeholders. By improving waste management practices, Brunei can not only address the issue of limited landfill capacity but also promote a circular economy, enhance environmental sustainability, and improve public health and quality of life for its citizens.

Brunei's waste export abroad

A Global Green Recycle collects different types of discarded paper and boxes from large retailers and ships them in 40-foot containers to Singapore, China, and Indonesia. The company pays between five and seven cents per kilogramme of used paper and boxes.

The company is now looking to expand its operations by collecting waste from schools and branching out into recycling tin cans and plastic. However, it currently lacks the necessary machinery to process tin and plastic waste and does not have enough supply to warrant doing the recycling in Brunei.

Brunei's waste management system faces several challenges, including a lack of national policies and guidelines for waste management, inadequate human resources for enforcement, and a lack of recycling facilities in the country. As a result, most waste ends up in landfills, with only 2% being used for compost.

Brunei's recycling companies

Brunei has several recycling companies that are working to improve the country's waste management. One of these companies is A Global Green Recycle, which collects old paper and boxes from large retailers and households and exports them to other countries. They have recently expanded their operations to include door-to-door collections, which has significantly increased the amount of waste paper they collect.

Another recycling company in Brunei is The Green Depot, located in Kuala Belait. This company accepts a range of recyclable materials, including paper, metal, aluminium, and e-waste. They require users to register for a "recover account" before dropping off items, and they offer rates for different types of recyclables.

In addition to these companies, there are other recycling initiatives in Brunei, such as Green Brunei, which organised a recycling drive in conjunction with Global Recycling Day in 2019. They collected over 400 kg of recyclables, including plastic bottles, e-waste, metal items, and aluminium cans, with the help of almost 40 participants. They plan to hold more recycling drives in the future to encourage environmentally sustainable habits among the public.

Furthermore, Enevo Brunei, a 100% locally owned private company, was established in 2016 to address the country's environmental sustainability challenges. They provide waste paper collection services to households and businesses and focus on resource recovery by converting waste paper into tissue paper rolls.

Brunei's waste collection issues

Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a small country in Southeast Asia with a population of around 450,000 people. The country faces several waste collection issues, which are detailed below:

Lack of Waste Management Infrastructure

Brunei's waste management infrastructure is lacking, with 70% of waste ending up in landfills, 2% through composting, and the remainder disposed of through conventional methods. The current landfill is anticipated to reach its maximum capacity in 2025. This lack of infrastructure, coupled with rapid urbanisation and a growing population, has led to a rapid increase in solid waste generation.

Ineffective Waste Collection Services

There have been reports of unreliable waste collection services in Brunei, with some companies failing to pick up trash regularly. This has resulted in trash piling up and not being disposed of properly.

Littering and Lack of Public Responsibility

There is a significant issue with littering in Brunei, with people throwing trash on the streets, beaches, and out of car windows. This is due to a lack of public responsibility and a reliance on cleaners and maids to pick up after them. There is also a cultural mindset that discourages people from cleaning up after themselves, as it is seen as the cleaner's job.

Lack of Recycling Initiatives

While there are some recycling companies in Brunei, they are mostly private initiatives that are not supported by national policies. The country lacks recycling facilities, and most recyclable materials are exported to other countries for processing. There is also a lack of public awareness and education about recycling and waste reduction.

Food Waste

Food waste is a significant issue in Brunei, with approximately 36% of waste consisting of food scraps. There are limited initiatives to reduce food waste, such as composting, and most food waste ends up in landfills.

Lack of Clear Waste Management Policies

Brunei lacks clear and enforceable waste management policies and legislation. While there are some acts and rules in place, they are not effectively implemented or enforced. The country also needs to improve waste auditing and monitoring to track progress and identify areas for improvement.

Poor Separation of Waste

There is a lack of proper waste separation in Brunei, with most waste being mixed together and disposed of in landfills. This includes recyclable materials, such as paper, plastic, metal, and glass, which could be reused or recycled.

Environmental and Health Impact

The lack of effective waste management in Brunei has negative environmental and health impacts. Open dumping and burning of waste contribute to air pollution and public health issues, such as respiratory problems.

To address these waste collection issues, Brunei needs to develop and implement comprehensive waste management policies, improve public education and awareness, invest in waste management infrastructure, and promote recycling and waste reduction initiatives.

Brunei's waste and recycling statistics

Bruneian Waste and Recycling Statistics

Brunei faces challenges in effectively managing its solid waste, with 70% of waste ending up in landfills, 2% through composting, and the remainder disposed of through conventional methods. The country's current landfill site is anticipated to reach its maximum capacity in 2025.

Municipal Solid Waste Generation

Brunei's per capita solid waste generation rate is 1.4 kg per day, the third-highest among ASEAN countries. The country generates an estimated 216,253 tons of municipal solid waste annually. This waste consists of everyday items such as product packaging, furniture, clothing, food scraps, and newspapers.

Waste Disposal and Recycling

70% of Brunei's waste goes directly to its six landfills, with the remaining waste being disposed of through composting and conventional methods. The Sungai Paku landfill site receives an average of 500 tons of waste daily, with a waste truck making three trips from the transfer station to the landfill site each day.

Waste Composition

The composition of waste in Brunei is as follows:

• 36% food waste
• 55% recyclable waste (paper, plastic, metal, glass, wood, and textiles)
• Oily waste from industrial sectors

Energy Recovery from Waste

Energy recovery from waste is crucial for Brunei to improve waste management, mitigate environmental consequences, and promote a circular economy. Brunei can produce 129,000 tonnes of CO2e/year landfill gas, which could be utilised to generate 367 GWh of electricity, resulting in savings of 1.6 million USD annually.

Waste Management Policy

Brunei has yet to establish a comprehensive national policy on waste management. While there are acts that regulate waste disposal and management, there is a lack of clear guidelines and standards for landfill sites and incinerators. The Department of Environment, Park, and Recreational (JASTRe) is responsible for waste collection in the country, working alongside the Municipal Department for municipal waste collection.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Brunei faces challenges in waste management due to rapid urbanisation, increasing population, and limited infrastructure and financial resources. The country relies heavily on landfills for waste disposal, and there is a lack of recycling facilities, with recyclable materials being exported overseas for processing.

To improve waste management, Brunei needs to prioritise sustainable solid waste management, promote waste segregation at the source, increase community awareness through environmental education, and develop adequate waste management facilities.

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