CAP SEA facilitates BMA visit to Malaysia for sustainable waste management exchange
GIZ and BMA delegates visiting key Malaysian federal and local agencies responsible for waste governance and urban environmental management at the KPKT–JPSPN Building
From 3-6 November 2025, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), together with the CAP SEA project, implemented by GIZ, conducted a reciprocal city-to-city exchange visit to Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, Malaysia. The visit aimed to strengthen bilateral learning and foster practical knowledge exchange on solid waste management, circular economy approaches, and community-led solutions, following the Malaysian delegation’s study visit to Bangkok in September.
The BMA delegation was welcomed by key Malaysian federal and local agencies responsible for waste governance and urban environmental management. The programme combined policy dialogue, technical site visits and community-level learning to provide a comprehensive overview of Malaysia’s waste management system.
Policy exchange at the federal level in Putrajaya
A central highlight of the visit was the official exchange session at the KPKT-JPSPN Building in Putrajaya. Representatives from the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp), the National Solid Waste Management Department (JPSPN), and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) shared insights on Malaysia’s waste management regulations, financing mechanisms, circular economy strategies and community engagement approaches. The session enabled in-depth discussions with BMA officers on institutional arrangements and public participation in waste recycling.
Policy exchange session at the KPKT-JPSPN Building
Learning from waste facilities and circular economy initiatives
To complement policy discussions, the delegation visited several waste management facilities in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. These included the Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill, a large-scale facility developed under Malaysia’s privatised solid waste management programme, which demonstrated engineered landfill operations, leachate treatment systems and long-term waste disposal planning.
The delegation also explored the Recovery Initiative Sustainable Eco-Facility (RISE) Kuala Lumpur, a materials recovery facility showcasing innovative approaches to waste sorting, recycling and resource recovery. These technical visits provided practical insights relevant to the BMA’s ongoing efforts to improve waste infrastructure and operational efficiency in Bangkok.
Delegates visiting sanitary landfill, Bukit Tagar
Delegates visiting the materials recovery facility, RISE KL
Community and social innovation perspectives
The final day of the exchange focused on community-driven and social innovation initiatives. The BMA delegation visited The Lost Food Project, Malaysia’s pioneering eco-food bank, which rescues surplus food and redistributes it to communities in need, preventing food waste from ending up in landfills. The visit highlighted the role of civil society and social enterprises in addressing waste and food security challenges simultaneously.
The programme concluded with a visit to The Green Action Experiential Exhibition at Jing Si Hall, operated by the Tzu Chi Foundation. The exhibition and recycling centre showcased Malaysia’s grassroots recycling movement and community-based environmental education efforts.
Delegates visiting The Lost Food Project and Tzu Chi Foundation
Strengthening regional cooperation
This reciprocal visit marked an important milestone in the city-to-city exchanges between Bangkok and Malaysian counterparts under the CAP SEA framework. By combining policy dialogue, technical learning and community engagement, the exchange reinforced practical cooperation and mutual learning between cities facing similar urban waste challenges. The insights gained will support the BMA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen sustainable waste management and community participation in Bangkok.