Article by Celine Ng | March 05, 2025
Achieving a circular economy requires more than just good intentions—it demands collective action from businesses, communities, policymakers, and waste management players. At BCSD Malaysia, we believe that waste is not merely a byproduct of consumption but a resource that, when managed responsibly, can contribute to a more sustainable, low-carbon future.
One of the most pressing challenges in plastic waste management lies in ensuring that materials are effectively collected, repurposed, and reintegrated into the economy. This is where the Jom Recycle initiative plays a critical role—transforming waste into a valuable resource while demonstrating the power of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in driving circular solutions.
Expanding Impact Through Collaboration
Since its launch, Jom Recycle has grown significantly, proving that sustained collaboration can lead to measurable environmental impact. The program now involves 262 patients. From its pilot at Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL), the initiative has expanded its reach to 11 hospitals across Selangor, ensuring more patients and healthcare facilities actively engage in responsible waste management. By doing so, Jom Recycle not only addresses waste reduction at the source but also fosters a culture of sustainability within the healthcare sector.
Each patient in the program consumes approximately 120 PVC bags per month, which collectively contributes to an estimated 260 tonnes of high-grade plastic waste annually. Without intervention, much of this waste would end up in landfills or the environment. However, through the Jom Recycle initiative, we have successfully diverted over 2 tonnes (2,421 kg) of PVC waste from landfills, preventing 4,841 kg of CO2-equivalent emissions.
This achievement underscores the program’s contribution to reducing plastic pollution and mitigating climate change, showcasing how a targeted, multi-stakeholder approach can deliver real results.
The Power of Multistakeholder Engagement
Jom Recycle Stakeholders from Vantive, Zuellig Pharma, Sin Yong Guan (SYG) Industries and BCSD Malaysia
The Jom Recycle is not the result of one entity’s effort—it is a collaborative achievement made possible by dedicated participants, industry partners, and healthcare professionals. In February, project stakeholders – Vantive, Zuellig Pharma, and BCSD Malaysia had the opportunity to visit Sin Yong Guan Industries Sdn. Bhd., one of our key recycling partners, to gain firsthand insight into how collected PVC materials are processed into secondary raw materials.
This visit reinforced the importance of end-to-end solutions in recycling—ensuring that what we collect is effectively transformed into new products, rather than simply being diverted into lesser-value applications. By engaging directly with industry players, hospitals, and patients, we are building a system where waste is continuously reintegrated into the production cycle, reducing dependence on virgin materials and lowering overall environmental impact.
Beyond recycling, this initiative highlights the critical role of EPR policies in making circular solutions scalable. By encouraging producers and consumers to take responsibility for post-consumer waste, Jom Recycle aligns with broader sustainability goals, demonstrating how industries can transition toward a closed-loop, resource-efficient future.
Closing the Loop on Plastic Waste
The journey toward a truly circular economy is a shared responsibility—one that requires active participation from businesses, policymakers, and individuals alike. Jom Recycle is more than just a recycling program; it is a proof of concept that demonstrates how collective action can lead to tangible environmental benefits.
We extend our deepest gratitude to our partners, hospitals, and patients who have played an instrumental role in making this initiative a success. By working together, we are not only reducing waste but also pioneering new approaches for sustainable material recovery in Malaysia.
Every recycled PVC bag is a step toward a cleaner, more circular future. Together, we are ensuring that plastic waste is not discarded but repurposed—given a second life in a system that values sustainability over disposability.
Join us in making circularity a reality—one recycled PVC bag at a time.
Circular Economy: A System of Continuous Value, Not an End Goal
Source: Circular Transition Indicators (CTI) Tools by WBCSD
The circular economy is often misunderstood as a process with a definitive end-point, where waste is simply recycled and the cycle is complete. In reality, circularity is about continuous action, ensuring that materials, resources, and products remain in use for as long as possible through reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling. Unlike the traditional linear economy, which follows a take-make-dispose model, a circular economy is restorative and regenerative by design, preventing valuable materials from becoming waste in the first place.
The Role of Recyclers: Keeping Materials in the Loop
In a circular system, recyclers are not just waste processors but key enablers of resource efficiency. Their role extends beyond collection and recycling to integrating secondary raw materials into new production cycles, partnering with businesses to create sustainable supply chains, and driving innovation in material recovery. However, circularity does not end at recycling; it requires continuous collaboration among manufacturers, policymakers, businesses, and consumers to ensure materials retain their highest value. The shift towards circular action means designing products for durability, encouraging responsible consumption, and ensuring that recycling is part of a larger strategy to close the loop on waste.
By moving away from the perception of recycling as the “final step,” we must instead recognize it as a critical enabler of a regenerative system that prioritizes resource optimization, lifecycle extension of materials, and minimal environmental impact.
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