More machines to upcycle glass waste in Sabah
KOTA KINABALU: Carlsberg Malaysia celebrated the first anniversary of its Project CarlsBot, a glass recycling and community empowerment programme, with the installation of CarlsBot machines at two additional sites.
The two new sites are at Kampung Madsiang in Penampang, and Shangri-La Rasa Ria in Tuaran, which are in addition to the first site at Tanjung Aru Marine Ecosystem here.
In expressing his gratitude to stakeholders, Carlsberg Malaysia managing director Stefano Clini said Project CarlsBot, aims to tackle packaging waste in Sabah with the support of the community and nongovernmental organisation Ripple Sabah.
“We are proud to advance our sustainability programme ‘Together towards ZERO and Beyond’ a step closer to our net zero carbon emission targets throughout our entire value chain by 2040.
“These are significant strides in empowering Sabahan communities to upcycle glass waste since the end of 2022, minimising the environmental footprint with 22,000kg of glass waste collected and crushed, diverting from landfills,” he said.
In recognition of Global Recycling Day, Carlsberg Malaysia is committed to achieving zero packaging waste not only in East Malaysia, but also achieving a 90 per cent collection and recycling rate for its bottles and cans by 2030.
Clini said as of the end 2023, the brewer achieved 94 per cent collection and recycling rate of returnable bottles in Peninsular Malaysia, compared to 92 per cent in 2022.
“We are humbled by the positive impact that Project CarlsBot has on over 1,700 members of the community, including participants in the glass recycling workshops who learned about responsible waste management practices, as well as the several retirees, students and unemployed youths who received income through the project,” he added.
Designed by a Sabahan inventor, CarlsBot machines are capable of pulverising a staggering 600kg of glass bottles per hour.
This innovation has not only enabled the recycling of glass waste but also transformed it into valuable resources such as cullets, coarse sand, and fine sand, facilitating various applications including furniture, garden pavers and the creation of unique handicrafts.
Meanwhile, Ripple Sabah chairperson Jenifer Lasimbang said they are proud to provide a localised glass bottle recycling ecosystem which helps the local community.
“We are encouraged that CarlsBot is hitting key milestones and hope to keep garnering support from all stakeholders. With continued funding from Carlsberg Malaysia, we are encouraged to further expand our impact and contribute to a sustainable future for Sabah and beyond,” she said.