Conclusion
Waste management has been a constant struggle even for larger and more developed islands, where approximately 60 percent of collected wastes are disposed of in non-sanitary landfills, 35 percent illegally burned and disposed, and 5 percent being dumped directly into the ocean. This situation persists despite the installation and use of mini-incinerators, which in recent years have come under scrutiny due to their below-par performance and questions on suitability.
Ocean action
Another concern relates to coral reefs, which are vulnerable to the impacts of waste due to their proximity to the main sources of refuse and dumping.
Research has shown that the immediate impacts of micro-plastics and other marine waste on reef corals and associated biota include physical damage, smothering of the seabed, entanglement of plants and animals, and gut blockages if items are ingested. With shallow coral reefs declining at unprecedented rates worldwide, and litter pollution escalating exponentially, it is critical to manage and curb the effect of anthropogenic litter on marine ecosystems.
Innovative solutions
To jointly address the issues of tourism sustainability and island waste management, UNDP Malaysia launched the Integrated Island Waste Management in Malaysia project and subsequently the Sustainable Tourism Recovery project, in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Ministry of Finance Malaysia.
The IIWM project is currently being implemented in two states: Terengganu and Johor. In the former, UNDP is collaborating with the Terengganu State Government on its two islands, Pulau Redang and Pulau Perhentian Kecil. In Johor, UNDP is partnering with a local NGO, Tengah Island Conservation (TIC) that specializes in biodiversity management.
The IIWM project works along two inter-related axes: firstly, pilot demonstrations of integrated waste management systems are being inaugurated on vulnerable islands, serving as a model for other areas on Malaysia’s coasts; and secondly, project staff and partners actively educate local communities and service providers about responsible waste management and sustainable tourism practices.
Cleaner islands
The IIWM project has found that plastics and food waste comprise a significant proportion of the waste generated on islands (70 percent); from resorts, food establishments and local communities.
A waste survey conducted under IIWM captured a more than 10-fold increase in waste collected during the holidays compared to pre-holiday waste collection, which highlights the importance of the private sector taking a larger and more proactive role in the waste management system on the islands.
To address development challenges, collective local action on waste management―underpinned by the public-private-CSO partnership―is a fundamental building block for progressive tourism development and co-designing beneficial local solutions for waste management on the islands.
There is a critical need to address island waste management to ensure improvements are introduced at all levels of the waste management process, from prevention and minimization to proper segregation, treatment, and disposal.
This in turn can lead to a significant reduction in pollution accreting in marine ecosystems, which provide the underlying ecosystem services for economic activities such as eco-tourism, fish farming, and community livelihoods. UN News