Trash-To-Cash With Zero Waste Community Centre

Before heading to the centre, Engku Rohani, who works as a cleaner, separates the solid waste into categories such as food waste, plastic bottles, paper, packaging plastic, and occasionally used oil, which she brings once a week.

At the KOSIS centre, the staff receives the solid waste and weighs it to determine the amount to be paid.

Engku Rohani is delighted because not only is the waste easily managed, but she also receives cash payments that help supplement her family's income.

Another resident of the flats, Ahmad Hizam Hairudin, 55, said he can earn up to RM200 a month by sending his solid waste to the KOSIS centre for management.

"Previously, I would dispose of trash through the garbage chute without thinking about what happened to it or where it went. Now, with KOSIS, we know our solid waste is being managed properly, and it even provides us with an income," Ahmad Hizam, who works as a clerk, told Bernama.

According to Ahmad Hizam, who is also Chairman of the Rukun Tetangga Community Centre at  Rumah Pangsa Jalan Hospital, the waste he collects – such as egg cartons, food waste that would undoubtedly produce an unpleasant odour if left at home, and unused electrical items - can also be sent to the KOSIS centre.

 

 TRASH-TO-CASH

Chief Executive Officer of the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp), Datuk Ahmad Husaini Abdul Rahman, said KOSIS is an initiative designed to help residents of the People's Housing Project (PPR) manage food waste and convert recyclable materials into cash.

This initiative is in line with the objectives of the National Cleanliness Policy and the National Community Policy, which aim to cultivate a society or community that practises cleanliness and recycling habits, ensuring a better quality of life and environmental sustainability.

"Both aspects are crucial elements that the MADANI government aims to instil among the citizens of this country for a clean, sustainable, and prosperous nation," said Ahmad Husaini.

 He explained that the KOSIS programme is implemented by establishing a KOSIS centre within the PPR to facilitate recycling activities and food waste treatment within the PPR community.

The goal is to educate the community on segregating solid waste, improve the economy of B40 families, instil a culture of valuing waste as a resource, and reduce the amount of solid waste sent to landfills.

"This initiative also encourages PPR residents to adopt recycling practices, contributing to the national recycling rate target of 40 per cent by 2025, and supporting the enforcement of the Separation at Source (SAS) policy, which was implemented in 2015," he added.

 

Elaborating further, Ahmad Husaini explained that this initiative has been implemented exclusively in 17 selected PPR locations and serves as a pioneer for the KOSIS programme, which has been in place since 2020.

The KOSIS centres were established by modifying existing garbage disposal facilities and providing adapted cabins to serve as centres for receiving recyclable materials.

 According to him, SWCorp has stationed two personnel at each KOSIS Centre to carry out awareness activities and recycling efforts, as well as engage with PPR residents to encourage participation in the programme.

“PPR residents who have separated their recyclable waste at home according to type will have it received and weighed for record purposes.

“The recyclable waste collected will be sold to local recycling operators, and proceeds from these sales will be distributed to participants of the KOSIS programme,” he said.

What's most interesting is that KOSIS centres also accept food waste from residents' kitchens to be treated through composting methods, including the manual Takakura Home Method and mechanical composting machines, which produce organic fertiliser that is beneficial for plants.

KOSIS staff guide and encourage interested residents to participate in these food waste treatment activities.

Moreover, participants who engage in these activities can eventually carry out food waste treatment on their own, under the supervision of KOSIS centre staff. The compost produced is then used in the PPR community gardens.

Sharing some success statistics, Ahmad Husaini noted that since the programme's introduction in 2020 until last year (2023), 47.5 per cent of premises in the 17 PPR locations, equivalent to 22,550 residents, have benefitted from the sale of recyclable materials conducted at KOSIS.

“Throughout the implementation of the KOSIS programme from 2020 to 2023 at the 17 PPR locations, a total of 461,685.64 kilograms (kg) of recyclable materials, valued at RM138,505.00, were collected and sold, while 51,496.98 kg of used cooking oil, valued at RM144,188.00, were also  collected and sold.

“Through the KOSIS Programme, a total of 551,745.49 kg of solid waste (recyclable waste, food waste, and used cooking oil) was diverted from landfills.

“This indirectly helps extend the lifespan of landfills while reducing the operational costs of landfills borne by the government,” he explained.

 

The sale of solid waste at KOSIS can generate additional income for residents, particularly those in the B40 income group. According to Ahmad Husaini, records show that through the KOSIS programme, participants earn an average income ranging from RM30 to RM400 per month from selling recyclable materials.

He further shared that throughout the implementation of the KOSIS programme from 2020 to 2023 in the 17 PPR locations, a total of 7,501.21 kg of compost fertiliser was produced from the food waste treatment of residents. This compost is used in the Kebun Komuniti, an initiative by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) to develop community gardens in a structured, systematic, and sustainable manner in urban areas.

On the targets, Ahmad Husaini said by 2025, SWCorp aims for 70 per cent of premises, equivalent to 38,040 residents from the existing 17 PPR locations, to participate in the KOSIS programme. This includes engaging the local community in awareness activities related to environmental cleanliness, as well as promoting recycling practices and culture.

 

The KOSIS Centre at Rumah Pangsa Jalan Hospital in Ipoh began operations on March 20, 2020, with the involvement of 283 units, or 48.05 per cent of the occupied premises.

According to Ahmad Husaini, one of the challenges faced when the centre first started was disseminating information about recycling to the residents.

However, with the cooperation of the residents' association, this was successfully achieved, making the centre one of the most successful KOSIS locations.

The centre, which is also equipped with a composting machine, can produce compost fertiliser from processed food waste, alongside manual composting methods.

“The compost fertiliser produced is used to fertilise plants in the community garden located next to the centre, which also generates income from the sale of vegetables such as chilly, eggplants, spinach, and water spinach,” he said, adding that the compost fertiliser is also sold to residents and users.

According to records from 2020 to December 2023, a total of 33,171.26 kg of recyclable materials, 4,589.70 kg of used cooking oil, and 6,225.40 kg of food waste were recorded at the KOSIS centre, with sales totalling RM23,558.60 during the programme's implementation.

“By 2023, it is estimated that the KOSIS Centre at Rumah Pangsa Jalan Hospital produced approximately 600 kg of compost fertiliser, of which 74 kg were sold to users, generating an income of RM370,” he said.

Following this success, the centre was awarded the Best KOSIS Centre in the Zero Waste Community Recognition Programme 2023, out of the 17 participating KOSIS centres.

The KOSIS centre has also been designated as a Mini Zero Waste Community Hub, serving as a primary reference point for Residents' Associations or the Neighbourhood Watch (KRT) and local agencies in their efforts to implement beneficial activities for the community, particularly in practising cleanliness and recycling.

 

KPKT, through SWCorp, is prepared to offer guidance and support to any parties, particularly PPR management, interested in establishing a KOSIS centre in their community to ensure effective and sustainable management.

According to Ahmad Husaini, the establishment of new KOSIS centres by PPRs, in addition to the existing 17, depends on the willingness and readiness of the PPR communities to create and manage these facilities in their respective areas.

“KPKT and SWCorp are setting the direction for the KOSIS Programme in the 17 relevant PPRs to enhance local community involvement and empower them to maintain and manage KOSIS Centres more effectively.

In this regard, SWCorp will hand over the management of the KOSIS Centres to the Joint Management Body (JMB) or the local Residents’ Association once community awareness and involvement in recycling reach a high level," he said.

He added that the KOSIS Centres will be self-managed by the JMB or Residents' Association, with SWCorp conducting regular monitoring to ensure that recycling activities run smoothly. This aligns with the government's vision, placing the responsibility of managing the centre's daily operations on the local community.

“If any PPR is interested in establishing a KOSIS Centre beyond the existing 17, KPKT, through SWCorp, will provide advice, guidance, and support to the JMB or Residents’ Association to manage the KOSIS centre,” he said.

 

 Translated by Salbiah Said