Challenges for Compliance with Industrial Effluent Regulations—An Industry Perspective

This study thoroughly examines the environmental challenges faced by Malaysian industries in adhering to industrial effluent regulations, addressing the question: what are the obstacles to compliance from the industry’s perspective? This study focuses on eight industries known for low environmental...

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Main Authors: Zulaikha Mokhtar, Steven Kenway, Irdayanti Mat Nashir
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Challenges
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/16/1/1
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author Zulaikha Mokhtar
Steven Kenway
Irdayanti Mat Nashir
author_facet Zulaikha Mokhtar
Steven Kenway
Irdayanti Mat Nashir
author_sort Zulaikha Mokhtar
collection DOAJ
description This study thoroughly examines the environmental challenges faced by Malaysian industries in adhering to industrial effluent regulations, addressing the question: what are the obstacles to compliance from the industry’s perspective? This study focuses on eight industries known for low environmental compliance over a seven-year period. Interviews with 13 stakeholders with combined operational experience of over 200 years were conducted to uncover barriers to compliance from the industry’s viewpoint. Key challenges identified include <i>costs</i>, <i>employee attitudes</i>, <i>technology</i>, <i>management support</i>, <i>public complaints</i>, and <i>jurisdictional issues</i>. The responses highlighted the complexity of compliance issues, ranging from divergent to unified viewpoints. According to respondents, enhancing compliance hinges on behavioral changes driven by <i>awareness</i>, <i>incentives</i>, <i>enforcement</i>, <i>guidance</i>, <i>industry ratings</i>, <i>management commitment</i>, and <i>public disclosure of emissions data</i>. This approach provides fresh practical insights that contribute to policy development, insights not previously documented in the literature. This study underscores the government’s crucial role in regulation adherence and the need to analyze barriers and explore alternative approaches. Understanding industry perspectives and strategies for continuous improvement is imperative. Therefore, analyzing current challenges and adopting adaptive measures are essential steps towards achieving self-compliance, continuous improvement, and ensuring environmental sustainability.
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spelling doaj-art-1f90f105c35a4657bf8a108377bd2f3d2025-08-20T03:43:33ZengMDPI AGChallenges2078-15472024-12-01161110.3390/challe16010001Challenges for Compliance with Industrial Effluent Regulations—An Industry PerspectiveZulaikha Mokhtar0Steven Kenway1Irdayanti Mat Nashir2School of Chemical Engineering, Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, AustraliaSchool of Chemical Engineering, Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, AustraliaDepartment of Engineering Technology, Faculty of Technical and Vocational, Research Management Information Centre, Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI), Tanjung Malim 35900, MalaysiaThis study thoroughly examines the environmental challenges faced by Malaysian industries in adhering to industrial effluent regulations, addressing the question: what are the obstacles to compliance from the industry’s perspective? This study focuses on eight industries known for low environmental compliance over a seven-year period. Interviews with 13 stakeholders with combined operational experience of over 200 years were conducted to uncover barriers to compliance from the industry’s viewpoint. Key challenges identified include <i>costs</i>, <i>employee attitudes</i>, <i>technology</i>, <i>management support</i>, <i>public complaints</i>, and <i>jurisdictional issues</i>. The responses highlighted the complexity of compliance issues, ranging from divergent to unified viewpoints. According to respondents, enhancing compliance hinges on behavioral changes driven by <i>awareness</i>, <i>incentives</i>, <i>enforcement</i>, <i>guidance</i>, <i>industry ratings</i>, <i>management commitment</i>, and <i>public disclosure of emissions data</i>. This approach provides fresh practical insights that contribute to policy development, insights not previously documented in the literature. This study underscores the government’s crucial role in regulation adherence and the need to analyze barriers and explore alternative approaches. Understanding industry perspectives and strategies for continuous improvement is imperative. Therefore, analyzing current challenges and adopting adaptive measures are essential steps towards achieving self-compliance, continuous improvement, and ensuring environmental sustainability.https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/16/1/1industry challengeenvironmental compliancecontinuous improvementbehavioral changeadaption of regulation
spellingShingle Zulaikha Mokhtar
Steven Kenway
Irdayanti Mat Nashir
Challenges for Compliance with Industrial Effluent Regulations—An Industry Perspective
Challenges
industry challenge
environmental compliance
continuous improvement
behavioral change
adaption of regulation
title Challenges for Compliance with Industrial Effluent Regulations—An Industry Perspective
title_full Challenges for Compliance with Industrial Effluent Regulations—An Industry Perspective
title_fullStr Challenges for Compliance with Industrial Effluent Regulations—An Industry Perspective
title_full_unstemmed Challenges for Compliance with Industrial Effluent Regulations—An Industry Perspective
title_short Challenges for Compliance with Industrial Effluent Regulations—An Industry Perspective
title_sort challenges for compliance with industrial effluent regulations an industry perspective
topic industry challenge
environmental compliance
continuous improvement
behavioral change
adaption of regulation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/16/1/1
work_keys_str_mv AT zulaikhamokhtar challengesforcompliancewithindustrialeffluentregulationsanindustryperspective
AT stevenkenway challengesforcompliancewithindustrialeffluentregulationsanindustryperspective
AT irdayantimatnashir challengesforcompliancewithindustrialeffluentregulationsanindustryperspective