KUCHING, SARAWAK, 8 October 2026 – Sarawak is taking another practical step towards a greener and more sustainable future with the launch of the Sarawak Refrigerant Recovery & Circular Cooling Ecosystem, a collaboration between DNS Waste Management, Daikin Malaysia and Iwatani Malaysia.
Building on the programme’s success in Peninsular Malaysia, Daikin Malaysia expands its Refrigerant Recovery Programme into East Malaysia. Developed in collaboration with technical partner Iwatani Malaysia and local implementation partner DNS Waste Management, the initiative strengthens responsible refrigerant recovery, reclamation and reuse while supporting Sarawak’s sustainability and circular economy aspirations.
The initiative represents Sarawak’s first structured refrigerant recovery and circular cooling ecosystem, enabling the recovery, reclamation and responsible reuse of refrigerants from end-of-life air-conditioning systems.
The ecosystem brings together Daikin’s industry leadership and nationwide network, Iwatani Malaysia’s refrigerant recovery and reclamation expertise, and DNS Waste Management’s local operational capabilities in Sarawak.
Together, the partners are creating a practical circular cooling model that keeps valuable refrigerants within the supply chain while reducing environmental impact.
The initiative supports Sarawak’s sustainability aspirations under PCDS 2030 and demonstrates how government, industry leadership, local implementation and public-private collaboration can translate circular economy principles into practical action.
Speaking at the launch, Datuk Amar Dr. Sim Kui Hian, Deputy Premier of Sarawak and Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government Sarawak, highlighted the importance of everyone playing a part in building a more sustainable Sarawak.
“Government alone cannot achieve our ambitious sustainability goals. We need strong active participation from the private sector, technical experts, local businesses, and, most importantly, the practitioners who implement these solutions on the ground,” said Datuk Amar Dr. Sim Kui.
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Local action, shared responsibility
At the heart of the initiative is a commitment to responsible lifecycle management of air-conditioning equipment. Rather than treating end-of-life air conditioners as waste, the ecosystem aims to recover valuable resources, minimise environmental impact and support a more circular approach to cooling.
When an air-conditioning unit reaches the end of its service life, DNS Waste Management will coordinate the collection and safe handling of the equipment in Sarawak. Refrigerants recovered from the units will be managed through a structured recovery and reclamation process, while other components can be directed towards appropriate recycling and resource recovery pathways where applicable.
Recovered refrigerants will be reclaimed and purified by Iwatani Malaysia to internationally recognised AHRI 700 standards before being returned for responsible reuse in servicing existing air-conditioning systems.
The initiative combines Daikin Malaysia’s industry leadership and dealer network, Iwatani Malaysia’s recovery and reclamation expertise, and DNS Waste Management’s local operational capabilities to establish a practical circular cooling ecosystem in Sarawak.
Sim Yian Chai, Managing Director of DNS Waste Management, highlighted the importance of building local collection and recovery capabilities to support responsible end-of-life management of air-conditioning equipment across Sarawak.
Iwatani Malaysia brings another important part of the solution by providing the technology, equipment, technical know-how and training required for responsible refrigerant recovery, while also reclaiming and purifying recovered refrigerants for reuse.
Tsurumaru Toshiharu, Chief Operating Officer of Daikin Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., said the program reflects the industry’s responsibility to consider the entire lifecycle of air-conditioning equipment.
“As an air-conditioning manufacturer, our responsibility should not end when an air conditioner is installed. We believe it extends throughout the entire lifecycle of the equipment, including how it is serviced, recovered and managed at end of life.”
“Through this initiative, Daikin is advancing a circular cooling ecosystem that promotes responsible resource management, reduces environmental impact and creates greater value from end-of-life air-conditioning systems. This is not only about refrigerant recovery. It is about transforming how our industry approaches sustainability across the entire lifecycle of cooling equipment.”
Building Sarawak’s local capability
The Refrigerant Recovery Program was first introduced in Peninsular Malaysia on 9 August 2024 through a collaboration between Daikin Malaysia and Iwatani Malaysia, with support from the Department of Environment. Since then, more than 16,000 end-of-life air-conditioning units have been recovered through the collaboration.
The Sarawak launch marks the program’s expansion into East Malaysia. The expansion aims to collect approximately 3,000 old air-conditioning units a year across East Malaysia, while developing local refrigerant recovery capabilities and establishing collection centers in Sarawak and Sabah.
The initiative reflects Daikin’s broader commitment to circular economy principles by extending product stewardship beyond installation and servicing to include responsible end-of-life management and resource recovery.
Through this partnership, Sarawak is showing how government, local businesses and industry can work together to turn waste into a useful resource, while contributing towards a cleaner, greener and more sustainable future for Sarawak.
