It's no surprise that this world we inhabit, is desperately seeking help from all of us to protect its environment for the sake of future generations to come. Be it from cleaning our oceans or researching ways to help reduce the amount of pollution, one of the easiest steps we can take to help this planet is in the simple form of recycling.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Zero Waste Community (KOSIS) Center and the opening of the "People's Housing Scheme Community Carnival" at the People's HDB at Hospital Road, Ipoh today, Minister of Housing and Local Government Nga Ko Ming pointed out that the Ministry, through the Solid Waste Management Corporation (SWCorp), has set up 74 drive-thru recycling stations (DTRC) nationwide, and has targeted to expand to 130 by the end of this year.
"Through the drive-thru recycling station, residents can drive themselves to send recyclable materials that have been sorted at home for recycling, which is easy and convenient."
Reported by Oriental Daily, he also announced that the Hospital Road Peoples HDB is set to become the first zero-waste community in Perak, with a drive-thru station.
Through these endeavours, he believes efforts in recycling waste can be strengthened, and hopes that by 2025, Malaysia can reach the 40% recycling target.
He predicts that nearby residents will be taking advantage of the drive-thru recycling station, which will not only help reduce solid waste but also provide an extra income by selling recyclables as well as used cooking oil.
"The Solid Waste Management Agency has implemented a zero-waste community program in 17 People's Housing Estates across the country since 2020. As of 2023, it has successfully collected 461,685 kilograms of recyclables with a recycling value of approximately RM140,000. It has also collected approximately 50,000 1,500 kilograms of waste cooking oil with a recycling value of about RM144,200."
The Zero Waste Community Center at Peoples Housing and Urban Development Block at Hospital Road not only had the honour of winning the best zero waste community in the country last year, but also managed to garner a total of 33,171 kilograms of waste cooking oil within the span of three years. The total recycling price of recyclables, 4,590 kilograms of waste cooking oil and 6,225 kilograms of food waste reached approximately RM24,000.
Adding to this, through the ministries Love and Care campaign, Nga also announced an allocation of RM3.625 million to the Hospital Road Peoples Housing Estate in Ipoh and the Seri Kepayang Peoples Housing Estate to assist in the upgrade of facilities, including replacing lifts, painting of its buildings as well as the establishment of HDB community centres.
"Among them, RM3 million will be used to replace five lifts in the Sri Kapayan People's Housing Estate, RM600,000 will be used to repaint Block 12 Hospital Road People's Housing, and the remaining RM25,000 will be used to set up a community in the housing estate."
Attendees of the ceremony included Deputy Secretary-General of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government Datuk Sai Datuk, Solid Waste Management Corporation (SWCorp) Chairman Koh Lai Xian, Chief Executive Officer Datuk Ahmad Husaini, Ipoh Mayor Datuk Lumiz, Perak Real Estate Board chief executive officer Mohd Akmal and Hospital Road People's Housing Neighborhood Program chairman Ahmad Hizam.
