Answer to Written Question PT21

YANG BERHORMAT DAYANG HAJAH ROSMAWATTY BINTI HAJI ABDUL MUMIN

QUESTION:

Yang Berhormat Dayang Hajah Rosmawatty binti Haji Abdul Mumin asked the Minister of Development to state the plans to expedite and expand the circular economy initiatives, including incentives for businesses and their integration into the national economic plan. This is based on the fact that nearly 46% of the waste in landfills is food waste and the importance of the circular economy in line with SDG12 to reduce dependence on imports, generate economic opportunities, and support environmental sustainability.

YANG BERHORMAT MENTERI PEMBANGUNAN

ANSWER:

The Ministry of Development fully supports the concept of a circular economy in waste management, in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. The Ministry of Development, through the Department of Environment, Parks, and Recreation (JASTRe), has devised plans to accelerate and expand circular economy initiatives, including providing incentives to industries and integrating this concept into national economic planning. The main focus is to address the issue of solid waste, particularly food waste, which is estimated to contribute around 46% of landfill waste, so it can be reduced and turned into a valuable new resource.

In line with the Waste Management Strategy under the National Climate Change Policy, which targets reducing waste generation to 1.0 kg per person per day by 2035 and reducing methane emissions from landfills, several projects and initiatives are being undertaken as follows:

• Construction of “Waste to Energy” (WtE) Plant: One of the main initiatives is the plan to establish a waste-to-energy disposal plant in the country. This WtE facility project aims to convert waste into renewable energy sources through modern incinerator technology. The incinerator can eliminate waste at high temperatures, subsequently generating green electrical energy from combustion heat.

  Such WtE technology not only reduces the need for new landfill sites—by drastically reducing waste volume to residual ash—but also the residue or by-products of the combustion process can be utilized in the construction industry (e.g., as road mix materials or concrete blocks) and horticulture. This aligns with the “waste-to-resource” concept, where waste is viewed as a reusable resource.

  Through cooperation between the Ministry of Development and the Ministry of Finance and Economy, a detailed study for the WtE project is being conducted to identify suitable technology and optimal site location. The appropriate financing model is also being considered, including leveraging on the public-private partnership (PPP) method given the high infrastructure costs of WtE. Once operational, this WtE plant is expected to manage a significant portion of daily domestic waste and contribute to the country's renewable energy targets.

• Empowering the Local Recycling Industry: The next effort is to help expand and diversify the capacity of recycling companies providing services through existing and new policies and regulations. This includes ensuring that the waste processing activities meet quality standards according to set requirements.

• Eco Food Waste Initiative: On February 27, 2025, JASTRe launched the Eco Food Waste Initiative. This initiative aims to encourage the separation and composting of food waste at various levels. Among other things, food waste management guidelines have been distributed to the public, covering various guidelines including storing organic kitchen waste in separate containers, methods for making compost materials at home, and tips for reducing food waste such as planning purchases and storing leftovers correctly.

  JASTRe also conducts public awareness campaigns through mass media and community workshops on ways to recycle food waste into compost materials. This compost material can be used to enrich soil and increase crop yield, thereby supporting the national food security agenda. In the long term, widespread composting practices can reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfills, thus reducing methane gas emissions.

• Direction of the Brunei Economic Blueprint: More broadly, the Brunei Economic Blueprint under the Ministry of Finance and Economy outlines the mission “Towards a Dynamic and Sustainable Economy” which emphasizes sustainability as a core principle for future economic development. This means initiatives like waste-to-energy conversion and increased recycling are not only seen as environmental initiatives but also recognized as opportunities to generate economic value and new jobs.

  For example, the WtE plant will involve foreign investment and technology transfer that simultaneously contribute to the national economy while addressing waste issues. At the same time, increased local recycling initiatives can create downstream industries (e.g., producing products from recycled plastic or paper), contributing to GDP and various economies.

The Ministry of Development will continue efforts in transitioning to a circular economy that not only reduces waste disposal to landfills but also generates new economic opportunities from such waste. This step is also in line with the goal of reducing dependency on imports, for example, if compost is produced domestically, the need for chemical fertilizer imports can be reduced; if recycled materials are reused, raw material imports can be saved. In a broader context, this initiative supports Brunei Vision 2035 by creating sustainable economic resources.