Swcorp Aims To Boost Recycling Practices Among Communities

PUCHONG, July 28 (Bernama) -- The Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) is determined to strengthen understanding among the public and increase the national recycling rate through various initiatives.

SWCorp Chief Executive Officer Datuk Ahmad Husaini Abdul Rahman said the agency is taking various approaches to reduce the amount of solid waste sent to landfills.

"We hope to further reduce waste going to landfills. Our focus is to divert waste to recycling plants. This year, our target is 37.5 percent, and for next year, 40 percent.

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"Last year, it was 35 percent. So, each year we expect a 2.5 percent reduction in waste sent to landfills," he told a press conference after attending the 'Karnival Kemampanan Komuniti Bandar (PKKB): Karnival Komuniti MADANI' event  here today.

He said this effort is to support the government's goal, set by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), to increase the national recycling rate to 40 percent by 2025.

Among the initiatives undertaken by SWCorp is the Trash to Cash Programme, which provides additional income to individuals or communities who recycle recyclable waste.

Additionally, SWCorp is implementing the Value Food, Avoid Waste Campaign, Zero Waste Community Programme (KOSIS), Schools Recycling Competition (PerKISS), From Waste to Wealth Innovation Design Competition (WAWI), and the Star Rating Award for Solid Waste Management in the Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Sectors (STAR-CII).

In line with the National Cleanliness Policy, SWCorp has also introduced about 32 Drive-Thru Recycling Centres (DTRC) to facilitate public recycling of unwanted items.

"Every day, there are 38,000 tonnes of solid waste disposed of, and annually, it amounts to 14 million tonnes," Ahmad Husaini said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu, who officiated the carnival, said the KOSIS programme has successfully collected 456,416.70 kilogrammes of recyclable items worth RM138,505 from 2020 to 2023.

"We have 17 People's Housing Projects (PPR) under KPKT's management, and we want solid waste separation to be done early, starting from home.

"The cost of maintaining landfills is very high, and it is our collective responsibility to help reduce solid waste to landfills wisely," she said.

At the same event, used cooking oil containers with a capacity of 40 litres were handed over to 27 traders at the Taman Putra Perdana Hawker Centre to encourage the collection of used cooking oil among traders.

SWCorp is a government agency established on June 1, 2008, under KPKT.

-- BERNAMA