Recycling in Penang: what the councils collect and where to take the rest

The short version

• Penang's Waste Segregation at Source Policy asks you to split rubbish into two: residual and recyclable.
• Landed homes: put clean recyclables in a bag beside your rubbish bin every Saturday. The council or its contractor collects them.
• Condos, flats, villages, shops and factories: recyclables are handled by the management body (JMB or MC), a licensed recycling contractor, or a recycling centre.
• Glass, cartons and clean styrofoam go to specific recyclers. Penang Green Council names them below.
• MBPP said in December 2024 it had set up 24 recycling centres on the island.

What counts as recyclable

Penang Green Council's FAQ lists aluminium cans, iron, metal, plastic bottles, plastic containers, plastic bags, food plastic containers, plastic buckets, glass, paper, newspapers, cardboard, magazines and books.

Residual waste is everything else, such as food waste (fruit peel, vegetable skins, eggshells, rice) and dirty items such as disposable nappies, used tissues and soiled boxes and paper. Residual waste goes in the green bin and is collected on the contractor's schedule.

Three steps, from the FAQ: know what is recyclable, clean it, and put it beside the residual bin.

Source: Penang Green Council FAQ, read 2026-10-14.

When the councils collect

The policy was launched on 1 June 2016 and re-implemented from 1 July 2024. For questions, Penang Green Council gives MBPP's contacts: jpp@mbpp.gov.my, eaduan@mbpp.gov.my and 04-263 3000.

On MBPP's side, the Municipal Services Department says residential rubbish is collected three times a week. On MBSP's side, house-to-house collection is also three times a week.

Sources: Penang Green Council FAQ, MBSP guideline for housing estates, MBPP Municipal Services Department and MBSP cleansing services, read 2026-10-14.

Living in a condo with no recycling bin?

MBSP's 2016 guideline for strata homes says the management body (Badan Pengurusan Harta Bersama) must provide recycling facilities as set by the council, and keep them clean and safe at all times. It refers to the councils' 2016 by-laws on waste separation. If your building has nothing, raise it with your JMB or MC first, then with the council.

Source: MBSP guideline for strata homes, as published in 2016, read 2026-10-14.

Glass, cartons and styrofoam

Penang Green Council's FAQ (as listed in July 2024) names these places. It gives no hours.

Foil-lined packaging, such as some snack packets, is not taken by any recycling company, the FAQ says.

Source: Penang Green Council FAQ, read 2026-10-14.

Food and garden waste

For food scraps, Penang Green Council suggests composting at home, or taking them to a community composting point: Pusat Sumber Alam Sekitar Taman Puteri Gunung, or Pusat Sumber Alam Sekitar SPU (Taman Bagan Lalang). Both are as listed in July 2024.

On the mainland, MBSP says garden waste is collected once a week, on Saturday or Sunday. For the island, see Get rid of a sofa, mattress or fridge.

Sources: Penang Green Council FAQ and MBSP cleansing services, read 2026-10-14.

Getting paid for recyclables

MBPP's Trash for Cash Hub 3R at Taman Serina, Sungai Pinang, run with Riiicycle and Tanjung Synergy, collected plastic bottles, paper, cardboard and aluminium cans in August 2026. The Star reported that people bringing more than 5kg of recyclables could receive free groceries. The report does not give the hub's regular days and hours.

Source: The Star, 25 September 2026, read 2026-10-14.

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