KUCHING: It is about time the people changed their mindset and embraced the recycling habit in view of the increasing amount of solid waste being generated today.
Padawan Municipal Council (PMC) deputy chairman Senator Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim said solid waste was increasing because of the growing population, rapid economic development and consumption activities.
“As urban citizens, there are various measures where we need to work together to achieve environmental wellness, including aiming for a higher recycling rate than what we are doing today.
“To achieve that level, we should change our mindset and our daily habits in solid waste management.
“The practice of recycling and keeping clean, especially in our residential areas, should start with us as adults and then educate and nurture our children to do the same, whether at home or at school,” he said.
Ahmad was speaking at the Recycling Awareness Day and prize giving ceremony in conjunction with the Joint Solid Waste Segregation and Recycling Programme organised by PMC, Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Garland and Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd at the school hall here, today (Jan 13).
The practice of recycling, he stressed, should also be done not just for the sake of making profit but should be driven by the desire to protect the environment and preserve natural resources.
“Therefore, through this kind of recycling programme, it will also be able to promote the recycling culture among the students and the school community,” he said.
Ahmad said the programme was aimed at raising awareness among students and the school community about the effects of improper disposal of plastic waste and how it would affect one’s health and the environment, eradicating and controlling illegal disposal of plastic waste on roadsides, and curbing illegal dumping.
“At the same time, since the programme is receiving an encouraging response, the council will extend the programme to other schools if they are interested,” he said.
Meanwhile, the programme runs with several activities such as 3R collection, awareness talk, colouring contest, innovation competition, eco fashion competition, amazing green race competition and prize giving ceremony.
It is also held in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) agenda by the United Nations (UN), which is to achieve SDG Goal 3 – Good Health And Wellbeing; Goal 14 – Life Below Water; Goal 15 – Life on Land; and Goal 17 – Partnership for the Goals.
According to a press release by Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd, last year PMC collected 35,515.21kg of recycled waste from being disposed at the landfill including plastic, aluminium and paper.
Apart from that, the council has also spent more than RM30,000 to conduct clearing works of illegal dump sites for the same period.
Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd deputy group chief executive officer Elvin Wee, and SK Garland’s headmaster Stanley Sagir were among those present at the event.
Pupils participate in the eco fashion competition in which their costumes are made with recycled materials.
