Eid Holiday Exodus Expected to Generate 71,000 Tonnes of Waste
The 2026 Eid holiday exodus is expected to trigger a significant surge in waste generation across various public facilities. The Environment Ministry (KLH) estimates that the total waste produced during this migration period could reach approximately 71,960 tonnes.
This projection aligns with the anticipated high mobility of the population during the Eid season. According to a survey by the Transportation Policy Agency of the Ministry of Transportation, the number of people moving during Eid 2026 is predicted to reach 143.91 million.
The Minister of Environment/Head of the Environmental Control Agency Hanif Faisol Nurofiq stated that this surge in mobility has the potential to increase waste generation at various transport service points, including terminals, stations, ports, and rest areas.
“Ideally, waste management at terminals should have proper facilities. However, because waste volumes are relatively small, what is equally important is proper waste segregation,” Hanif said in an official statement on Monday (16 March).
He emphasised that waste management during the Eid exodus is not only about transportation but also requires early segregation so that waste can be handled more effectively.
To anticipate the potential surge in waste, the Environment Ministry/Environmental Control Agency is encouraging public facility operators to strengthen their waste management systems, including providing segregated waste bins, routine collection, and public education.
Additionally, the government is also encouraging terminals, stations, and other transport facilities to complete environmental documentation as part of better governance practices.
“We will encourage all terminals and stations to promptly fulfil their environmental documentation requirements, which is important for their operations,” Hanif said.
Through the Minimal Waste Exodus initiative, the government hopes that the holiday migration will not only be safe and comfortable but also more environmentally friendly with better waste management. Until Saturday (15 March) evening, which was six days before Eid, 214,624 train tickets had been sold during the Eid transport period.