Waqf and Waste: An Unexplored Potentials

Abstract

Waste has become a serious problem in preserving the sustainability of the environment where humans live. Islam teaches the importance of preserving the environment as one of the efforts to preserve life. Waste management is usually under the domain of the government as part of its obligations to provide and manage public goods for the benefit of society. However, as the Covid-19 pandemic struck in late 2019, most governments globally are now short of budget and forced to take on loans to keep the economy afloat. It is worried that waste management has become a second priority in the government budget, while Covid-19 pandemic itself has produced another kind of waste that requires special handling to dispose and put more burden on the already distressing waste management issues that happened even before Covid-19. Because of the importance of preserving life as one of the parts of Iman and Islam, this paper is proposing waqf institution in its role as public goods provider to manage waste alongside the government. In short, waqf is utilized to manage waste generated so it will not harm the environment, especially during and after Covid-19 pandemic struck, potentially increasing waste generation exponentially. Moreover, it is possible for waqf institutions, either privately or publicly managed, to ease the burden of government in managing waste generated by society, from both obligation and budget perspectives. Nevertheless, the ultimate goal for this concept is to preserve the environment and life as one of the obligations stipulated in Maqasid As-Shariah (Islamic Objectives) to achieve Falah (Islamic Goal).