By Fitri Hazim Hazam
SEPANG, March 25 – The first Automated Drive-Through Recycling Centre (ADTReC) is now open in Cyberjaya to raise public awareness of recycling activities and offer convenience to the local community.
KDEB Waste Management Sdn Bhd (KDEBWM) managing director Dato’ Ramli Mohd Tahir said with the do-it-yourself (DIY) concept, the initiative also allows people to generate income through recycling activities.
He said that the RM500,000 facility, equipped Wi-Fi, lighting, fans and closed-circuit television (CCTV) installed, can operate on its own around the clock.
“Residents who wish to use the service must first register via the Trash4Cash application and then write down their name, phone number, and Trash4Cash member number on the labelling taped on their waste packages.
“After that, they would have to place the items to be recycled into the container provided,” he said when met after the launch of the ADTReC facility, here today.
Ramli said that payments for recycled materials is made online after 48 hours of the verification process based on information entered after the user scans the QR code when signing up.
He said the pricing is according to market rates, namely 10 sen per kilogramme for mixed paper, black/white paper (30 sen/kilogramme), old newspapers (35 sen/kilogramme), and wires (RM1/kilogramme).
Additionally, used cooking oil (RM2.70/kilogramme), aluminium cans (RM2.30/kilogramme), vehicle batteries (50 sen/kilogramme), mixed electronic waste (20 sen/kilogramme), compact discs (40 sen/kilogramme), and compressors (RM7/unit).
“After the recycling material is collected by the operator, verification will be processed through calls, checks, and weighing procedures,” he said.
In collaboration with Bumi Waste Management Sdn Bhd, the company responsible for the maintenance of the automated recycling centre, Ramli said that the state agency aims to develop more ADTReC facilities throughout the state in stages.
“KDEBWM hope that the each of the local authorities would have five ADTReC facilities, making a total of 60 throughout Selangor.
“The launch in Sepang today is the start to build more of these facilities in the state in the future,” he added.
Meanwhile, the operation of the automated recycling centre in Cyberjaya is expected to save waste management costs for the Sepang Municipal Council (MPSepang) by RM500,000 this year.
Its president Dato’ Abd Hamid Hussain said that there has been a annual increase in solid waste generation in the Sepang district due to population and economic growth, and urbanisation.
He said the local council spent RM4.8 million to manage 129,843 tonnes of solid waste last year.
“In 2023, solid waste generated (in the district) increased by 5.8 percent compared to 2022, with 122,633 tonnes, and 116,595 tonnes in 2021.
“We hope that with the development of ADTReC, it could save on solida waste management costs by 10 per cent or RM500,000 (yearly), which can be used for other developments such as tree planting, road facility repairs, and playground construction,” he added.
