Selangor launches project on safe disposal of ewaste

PROACTIVE steps to recycle electronic waste are being taken as estimates show that 285,000 tonnes may be produced in Selangor by 2025.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari announced Selangor’s plans to recycle at least 15% of ewaste.

He said this at the launch of the state’s pilot project for ewaste collection, “Program Kutipan Sisa Elektrik dan Elektronik Peringkat Negeri Selangor”.

As part of the project, a doorstep pickup service for households with five or more ewaste items was announced.

“At the moment, we estimate that just 1% of ewaste is recycled and we want this number to increase to at least 15%.

“The recycling of ewaste has high economic value compared to other recyclables.

“I hope more telecommunications companies will embark on ewaste recycling,” he said at the launch in Wisma Dewan Negeri Selangor, Shah Alam.

The pilot project is a team-up between the state government, Malaysian telecommunications firm Maxis Bhd and Asean’s first on-demand recycling service Electronic Recycling Through Heroes (ERTH).

State public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said the project was estimated to cost RM500,000.

“With a minimum of five ewaste items, those recycling will receive a cash incentive from collectors.

“There is also a RM5 reward from the state government when they key-in ‘Selangor’ in the collection app.

“This pilot project will continue until year end,” she said.

Jamaliah added that the project was a way for the state government to gather statistics on how much ewaste could be collected.

This, she said, would allow a better understanding on the scale of the problem in Selangor.

“Our target is to gather about 15,000 units of ewaste through the project,” she said.

“The ewaste collection has started in urban areas.

“Local councils will help promote the initiative and we want to expand the project to other areas such as Sekinchan and Kuala Kubu Baru,” said Jamaliah.

Examples of ewaste are rice cookers, TVs, smartphones and laptops.

Ewaste discarded incorrectly poses risks to humans and the environment because of harmful contents such as mercury.

For more information, visit www.lestariselangor.com/ewaste