Impact of Movement Control Order (MCO) due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) on Food Waste Generation: A Case Study in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Muhammad Heikal Ismail, Tinia Idaty Mohd. Ghazi, Muhammad Hazwan Hamzah, Latifah Abd Manaf, Ramli Mohd Tahir, Ahadi Mohd Nasir and Ammar Ehsan Omar
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Muhammad Heikal Ismail: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, UPM Serdang 43400, Malaysia
Tinia Idaty Mohd. Ghazi: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, UPM Serdang 43400, Malaysia
Muhammad Hazwan Hamzah: Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, UPM Serdang 43400, Malaysia
Latifah Abd Manaf: Department of Environment, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, UPM Serdang 43400, Malaysia
Ramli Mohd Tahir: KDEB Waste Management Sdn Bhd, Shah Alam 40000, Malaysia
Ahadi Mohd Nasir: KDEB Waste Management Sdn Bhd, Shah Alam 40000, Malaysia
Ammar Ehsan Omar: KDEB Waste Management Sdn Bhd, Shah Alam 40000, Malaysia

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 21, 1-17

Abstract: The outbreak of a neurological disorder was first discovered as a new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Wuhan, China. The infection spread rapidly in China and throughout the world, including Malaysia. Malaysia recorded its initial case on 25 January 2020 with intensifying numbers since March 2020. Due to this uncertain circumstance, Malaysia has introduced the Movement Control Order (MCO) with the main aim of isolating the source of the COVID-19 outbreak, which was effective from 18 March 2020. The restriction has observed fewer vehicles on the road with industrial and commercial activities being suspended. The objective of the study is to quantify the effects of MCO to food waste generation in town and district areas of Klang Valley, Malaysia. Food waste generation data was derived from the Project Delivery Department, KDEB Waste Management on a daily basis before (19 February–17 March 2020) and during the MCO (18 March–14 April 2020) at 12 local authorities in Selangor, Malaysia. The data was obtained with the limitation of assumption that there is no waste compositional analysis to be conducted in 2020. Despite the stay-at-home order, food waste data showed a descriptive reduction of up to 15.1% during the MCO. Statistical analysis of food waste generation from one-way variance has shown that municipal and district local authorities recorded a significant reduction ( p < 0.50) during the MCO. The food waste reduction during the MCO will deliver as the evidence-based results to push the need for policies in Malaysia as per the goals outlined in Sustainable Development Goals of global food loss and waste.

Keywords: food waste generation; food waste management; coronavirus disease; movement control order; Malaysia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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