PUTRAJAYA: An updated mechanism to manage the disposal of household electrical and electronic waste or ewaste efficiently will be proposed to the Cabinet, says Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister said such a proposal involving the disposal of ewaste would be in line with the increasing use of technology in the country’s households such as electric vehicles (EV) and solar panels.

“While the campaign (to manage and dispose ewaste) is important, I agree that we need to look at a specific and structured mechanism for ewaste because ewaste is beginning to cover a bigger component of our waste today.

“We are already coming to the end of the battery life cycle for the first generation of hybrid cars,” he said after launching the Gaya Hidup Hijau campaign at the ministry’s headquarters here, on Friday (Jan 12).

Nik Nazmi added that a discussion would also be held involving relevant ministries in managing the ewaste including the Housing and Local Government Ministry, Energy Transition and Public Utilities Ministry and Investment and Trade Industry Ministry.

He said the disposal of the ewaste would require a whole-of-government approach therefore, the matter should be discussed thoroughly between the ministries involved.

According to the Environment Department website, ewaste is a broken, non-working or old or obsolete electric electronic appliance such as a television, desktop computer, air conditioner, washing machine and refrigerator.

It is also categorised as Scheduled Wastes under the Code SW110, First Schedule, Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005.

Ewaste is generally divided into two main types, according to its generation sources namely; ewaste generated from the industrial sector and household ewaste.

These items often contain hazardous materials like lead, mercury, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants.

When not properly disposed of, ewaste can lead to environmental contamination and health hazards for nearby communities.