PJ folk told to recycle, reuse

RESIDENTS in Petaling Jaya produce about 600 tonnes of rubbish every day, says mayor Mohamad Zahri Samingon.

According to him, the cost of managing solid waste that goes to landfills is expected to be as much as RM89mil for 2024.

He highlighted this at Petaling Jaya City Council’s (MBPJ) Jalinan Kasih 3R PJKita programme, which is part of the local council’s effort to increase awareness of recycling and reuse of resources among residents.

Under the programme, items received from residents will be repaired by staff of MBPJ’s Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Department.

Mohamad Zahri said the average value of refurbished furniture and home furnishings was between RM2,000 and RM3,000 each.

The mayor also touched on the city council’s used cooking oil drop-off programme, which would be held twice a month at selected locations.

He said Petaling Jaya residents could deliver their used cooking oil to the PJ Eco Recycling Plaza in Sungai Way Free Trade Industrial Zone too.

The oil will be purchased at RM2.50 per kilogramme.

“I hope such programmes can show the population in Petaling Jaya that proper rubbish disposal is to protect the environment and encourage recycling with waste separation,” he said during the event held at the recycling plaza.

MBPJ also simultaneously held its Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration and launch of a recycling contest for kindergartens and schools.

The competition is organised in cooperation with Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd (F&N) and Tetra Pak Malaysia.

Mohamad Zahri thanked F&N for its financial support since 2018 for the recycling competition as well as in the early development of the recycling plaza.

He also thanked Tetra Pak for gallery space to promote recycling and upcycling education at the plaza, and highlighted the company’s contribution of chairs made from recycled poly-Al (polyethylene and aluminium) boards consisting of beverage cartons.

Also present were Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Department director Zain Azly Abdul Rahman, Tetra Pak Malaysia sustainability director for Asean Terrynz Tan and F&N corporate relations assistant manager Rizal Abdul Rahman.

In his speech, Zain Azly said the city council had identified eligible families as recipients of used goods.

“As many as 11 families from the poor and B40 community will receive donations of used items from the Spring Cleaning programme held during each major festival in Malaysia.

“Most of the bulk waste items received are still in good condition.

“Recipients can also choose to receive pre-loved items that are dropped-off by the public at the recycling plaza,” he said, adding that the items included clothes, shoes, bags, toys and electronic devices.

Zain Azly said that in 2023, the drop-off centre at the recycling plaza received 106.6 tonnes of recycled goods and 2,677 units of used goods that could still be used.

As for the recycling competition, he said it started in 2018 but was temporarily suspended from 2020 until 2022 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2023, 23 schools and kindergartens participated in this competition and 30.9 tonnes of recyclable goods were saved from going to the landfill, he said.