Jalan Semaba folk first to benefit from MPP-Trienekens pilot recycling project
KUCHING: Residents along Jalan Semaba near here should be the first to benefit from a pilot project jointly run by Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) and Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd.
The project aims to provide kerbside recycling collection service around the neighbourhood.
This means that through the trial house-to-house collection service, the residents would be able to put their household waste up for recycling with ease and at the same time, enjoy a scheduled collection service right at their doorsteps.
Speaking at the project launch yesterday Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang, who is also MPP chairman, said it has always been one of the council’s main agenda to raise better awareness of the importance of waste reduction and environmental conservation.
This project, he said, would provide the service facility for residents to have their recyclables collected from their kerbsides.
Another main goal, according to him, is to also increase the household recycling rate, which should lay the foundation for better awareness and good recycling practices at home.
“Recycling at the source will definitely be a great opportunity for all to reduce waste and divert them from going to the landfills. We hope the residents would understand the need to do waste segregation at the source, in which they would find it easier to recycle given the collection facility – over time, the practice would become their way of life,” he said.
Lo also commended the Jalan Semaba Community Association for their support and cooperation in the project, adding that the project would provide a good opportunity to gauge the community’s environmental awareness level and responsiveness towards the service.
He said should the first phase of pilot project go well, MPP would plan to branch out and include other locations as well.
“Some of the possible areas that we are looking at are RPR Batu Kawa and Bengoh Resettlement Scheme,” he said.
The six-month pilot would involve several households along Jalan Semaba area – namely those at Lorong 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13.
Together with Trienekens, the MPP would distribute educational leaflets and special recycling stickers at these areas two weeks prior to the first day of collection.
Residents are requested to separate their household waste and pack their recyclables in used plastic bags or boxes, marked with the stickers to indicate that the contents are for collection.
Then, the packed recyclables are to be left outside their houses – ready for collection.
The residents are also advised to put their recyclables out early on their collection day, but should refrain from putting it out the day before.
The first house-to-house kerbside collection for Jalan Semaba is targeted to be carried out on Jan 3 next year. According to Trienekens Group chief executive officer Stephen Chin, Trienekens needs to look at the entire waste management system – from generating less waste, to better standardisation of the recycling system.
“At Trienekens, we are always keen to look for effective and innovative solutions for our customers and the public, going beyond the standard municipal collection services, to create a positive impact for the community and environment,” he said.
Recyclables that would be collected include household ewaste, aluminium, plastic, steel, paper and cardboards.
On the other hand, regular household waste being disposed of into the standard green bins would continue to be collected twice-weekly, according to the housing estates’ regular schedule.