LETTERS: In Malaysia, an average of 3,000 tonnes of food end up in landfills, and this becomes more pronounced during Ramadan, when food waste increases by 20 per cent.
Solid waste collection during Ramadan in previous years was estimated at more than 252,521 tonnes.
The Consumers Association of Penang estimated that 90,000 tonnes of food were thrown into bins nationwide during last year's Ramadan.
KDEB Waste Management said that in the first two weeks of this year's Ramadan, 73 metric tonnes of food waste were generated from 10,854 bazaars in seven local authority areas in Selangor.
All this waste ends up in landfills, posing a threat to the country due to the adverse effects of disposal, besides inefficient land use.
Local authorities need to strengthen the use of big data concepts to analyse the number and needs of Ramadan bazaars according to distance and population density in each area.
This can provide initial references for the number of buffet companies and Ramadan bazaars before approval is given. This data can then be referred to along with information on forecast purchase analysis.
The study can also involve experts from universities or industries. It's important to understand consumer purchasing patterns and influencing factors.
This study can combine purchasing data, weather conditions, payday and other factors for more accurate predictions about food demand.
With this deeper knowledge, food sellers and entrepreneurs can reduce food waste.
The government should also introduce the extended producer responsibility (EPR) concept to control this matter, similar to the one for electrical and electronic waste materials.
EPR is a policy approach that places responsibility on producers to manage and dispose of used products either through their own actions or financial contributions.
One potential approach is to introduce a wasted food levy on food sellers and operators.
This levy can be used to support food waste reduction programmes, including funding for food distribution to those in need, or to finance research on food waste.
Approaches to leasing sites or imposing charges on producers for waste disposal could address food waste issues.
In this context, municipal councils could introduce a system where food producers are charged when they dispose of food that ends up in bins or landfills.
This payment can be refunded to producers if they comply with the conditions set, such as not disposing of food, except in dire circumstances or adhering to waste limits.
This approach incentivises producers to act responsibly and provides a way to monitor and manage food waste.
DR AL AMIN MOHAMED SULTAN
Senior lecturer, Faculty of Technology and Industrial Management, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM)
DR ANAS ABDUL LATIFF
Deputy director, Centre for Research and Innovation Management, UTeM
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times