Donggongon hawkers take lead in composting
PENAMPANG: Collecting up to 80 kilogrammes of vegetable and fruit waste on some days, Donggongon hawkers see composting as a way to effectively manage scraps that would otherwise end up in a landfill about an hour away by road.
They are keen to learn more about processing compost, the potential of applying it as organic fertilizer and of selling it to those who wish to make the shift away from harmful agricultural practices.
Over 60 members of the Donggongon Market Hawkers and Small Traders Association who have since the start of the year supported Forever Sabah’s Urban Waste Reuse programme want the recycling of green waste to be practised as a culture with hope that the example they set would inspire hawkers elsewhere.
Association chairperson Ng Mei Li @ Ng Mei Lee said there are several benefits of collecting green waste to produce compost including reducing stench that is associated with rotting vegetables and fruits.
“Our members are aware that there is demand for organic produce and they are keen to act as suppliers for this. Apart from selling vegetables, fruits and other food items, hawkers and traders at the market know there is monetary potential from selling compost and produce that is grown organically.
“They can also create compost for their personal use,” Ng said.
Association members collect between 50kg to 80kg of waste a day but the amount sees a reduction on weekly tamu (market) days as most trade is done outside the market building.
Ruslinda Dawa who heads the green waste collection for the association, said to boost efforts to lead the way in composting, members hope the Penampang District Council could provide more bins designated for green waste at all corners of the market.
She suggested that the council should also impose rules and regulations to ensure that only green waste is thrown into the designated bins.
“We also need brochures to teach the process of making compost – to be distributed to the public, our families and friends so that more people will understand what composting is about,” Ruslinda said.
Forever Sabah’s Urban Waste Reuse Technical Coordinator Winnie Jimis said based on feedback of a recent discussion with five association representatives, members are already segregating green waste on their own with some opting to use the organic matter to feed their animals or make their own compost.
“The Penampang District Council has been supportive of this initiative to segregate green waste and both Forever Sabah and the association are in touch with them to ensure the composting effort moves to the next level.
“To keep the momentum going, we are currently sending the segregated green waste for composting to Kampung Kuai about five kilometres away,” Winnie said.
Apart from hawkers, Winnie said CKS Supermarket had started segregate its green waste and was supportive of the programme giving it the boost it needed to move forward in encouraging more businesses to jump on board.
Forever Sabah is a long-term programme to support Sabah’s transition to a diversified, equitable, circular economy. It was initiated and is supported by civil society, government and the private sector, and it relies upon cuttingedge science and the knowledge of indigenous communities.
The Urban Waste Reuse programme is one of several projects that Forever Sabah supports.