SKUDAI, 22 August 2024

MORE than 1,682 tonnes of recyclable items have been saved from landfills through the KITARecycle initiative.

Introduced by waste management concessionaire SWM Environment Sdn Bhd in 2019, the KITARecycle app gained popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic.

At the time, people were mostly at home, said the concessionaire’s corporate general manager Mohd Norlisam Mohd Nordin.

He said the surge in ecommerce and other online activities also led to people recycling during that period.

“The programme was aimed at encouraging people to separate at source to better manage waste and recyclable materials.

“To date, KITARecycle has more than 37,800 users, made up of individuals and groups in Johor,” he said.

Mohd Norlisam said that points accumulated from recycling could be exchanged for money.

He said from the 1,682 tonnes of waste prevented from going to landfills, app users had helped to reduce 4,617 tonnes of carbon dioxide emission.

To get more people to participate in green activities, he said SWM Environment usually weaved recycling programmes into its events.

He highlighted that during its recent “Lestari Fun Run and Ride” event, participants were required to bring at least 3kg of recyclable materials where they could also earn points via the app.

“The event, organised for the second year, saw about 2,500kg of recyclable items collected from 500 participants.

“We also encourage organisations and industry players, especially those actively involved in environment, social and governance practices, to join our incentive programme,” he added.

The public can download the app and drop off their labelled recyclable items at any KITARecycle facility in Johor Baru such as B5 Johor Street Market, Tunku Mahkota 
Ismail Youth Centre, SWM Environment regional office in Bandar Dato’ Onn, Hutan Bandar MBIP in Taman Mutiara Rini, Sutera Mall or Sunway Boulevard 88.

For those staying in other areas in Johor, they can drop off items at Masjid Jamek Bandar Kulai, National Information Dissemination Centre (Nadi) Taman Nilam in Pontian or SWM Environment regional office at Pura Kencana, Batu Pahat.

Similarly, Oil2Wang is another initiative that rewards people for recycling, with a focus on used cooking oil (UCO).

The programme was developed by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s (UTM) Dr Faizuan Abdullah about two years ago to make it easier for the community to recycle UCO.

Faizuan, who heads UTM Skudai’s separation science and technology research group, said the initiative began when his team developed a sensor that could differentiate between UCO and other liquids.

With the help of grants from Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) and Malaysia Petroleum Resources Corporation, the team developed and built a kiosk with separate tanks, pumps and an operating system to let it function for 24 hours, he said.

“We are also the first to patent the technology in Malaysia.

“The first kiosk using this technology was set up in Taman Pulai Flora, Skudai.

“Users need only scan the QR code in their Oil2Wang app before pouring UCO into the inlet.

“Once the system detects the UCO, it will calculate the amount and transfer the money earned to the user’s bank account within 24 hours.”

Faizuan said the amount paid out depended on fluctuating crude palm oil futures prices, but the idea was to get more people to recycle instead of dumping UCO down the drain.

He highlighted the importance of proper management and recycling of UCO, which could contribute to achieving the country’s National Energy Transition Roadmap to accelerate its green and sustainable growth agenda.

“Every year, nearly 50,000 tonnes of UCO are mismanaged, causing pollution, leaving a negative impact on the environment and requiring high management costs from local authorities.

“In 2016, then Klang Municipal Council reportedly spent more than RM6mil to clear blocked drains caused by UCO that had hardened in pipes flowing from houses,” he said.

Faizuan said a 2020 study of Pasir Gudang residents found that many were unaware that UCO could be recycled.

“Research showed that only 7.6% of consumers recycled UCO while the remaining percentage disposed of the oil into the sink, drain or rubbish bin.”

He hoped this initiative could raise more awareness about the proper management of used cooking oil.

“We are in the midst of setting up self-service kiosks in Gelang Patah as well as in Sekijang, Segamat.

“Soon, we will also be setting up kiosks at three locations in Shah Alam, Selangor, and another three in Penang.

“The locations are mostly at people’s housing projects (PPR) where the incentive can provide supplementary income for low-income families,” said Faizuan.

He advised users to cool UCO before filtering and storing it in glass or plastic bottles.

UCO from the self-service kiosks would be transported to biodiesel production facilities to be recycled, he said. — By YEE XIANG YUN