By Sheeda Fathil
SHAH ALAM, June 19 – Selangor aims to produce recycling experts and make the recycling industry a full-fledged career path, which will enhance the management of recyclables while creating a source of additional income for its people.
State executive councillor for housing and urban wellbeing Rodziah Ismail said the module related to this initiative had been presented to the Malaysian Skills Development Department (JPK) recently.
“I have met with JPK and presented a module for waste management, and our intention is to establish recycling experts as a recognised profession in Malaysia.
“The intended recycling experts are those who can assess the value of different types of waste such as glass, plastic or paper – determining which ones can bring profits and should not be discarded recklessly,” she said during a press conference after launching the Recycling Centre at the Kampung Baru Hicom People’s Housing Project (PPR) here today.
Rodziah added that she believes this will also change the perception that waste management is a dirty job.
“On the contrary, those working as recycling experts can educate and ensure that more people understand the proper methods of managing and evaluating waste.
“InsyaAllah (God willing), even homemakers can consider it as their future career, as we are currently discussing the provision of certifications for this profession.
“Subsequently, Selangor can take pride not only in its excellent waste management under KDEB Waste Management Sdn Bhd (KDEBWM) but also in producing recognised recycling experts,” she said.
Rodziah also commended KDEBWM for opening another recycling centre in a low-cost housing area, and she hopes residents will make good use of the facility.
Meanwhile, KDEBWM has allocated RM20,000 to develop the Kampung Baru Hicom PPR recycling centre.
Its managing director Dato’ Ramli Mohd Tahir the “drop-off” recycling centre aims to encourage residents to separate and manage their waste correctly.
He said based on studies, the shortage of such facilities is one of the reasons why the residents do not practice recycling.
“By providing a convenient and effective recycling centre, we hope the residents here will start collecting and separating recyclable waste.
“Since the recycling centre started operating on April 1, nearly 400 kilogrammes of recyclable materials have been collected, with plastic being the highest amount followed by paper, cardboard, and aluminium,” he said.
The operation of the recycling centre is the first collaboration between KDEBWM and the Selangor Housing and Property Board through its subsidiary, Selangor Housing and Property Sdn Bhd.
Ramli added the recycling centre is also part of the efforts to achieve a 15 per cent recycling rate in Selangor by 2025.
“We urge the residents here, especially, to adopt the 5R practices (refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle) to help us reduce waste at disposal sites.”
KDEBWM had previously introduced a community recycling centre in Cyberjaya and two recycling collection centres on Jalan Korporat, Klang, and Bukit Puchong.
