JOHOR, 22 February 2025

ABOUT eight tonnes of recyclable items were dropped off at the B5 Johor Street Market hub last year, preventing them from ending up at landfills.

JCorp Foundation chief executive officer Zaidatul Zurita Abdul Rahman said her organisation hoped to increase the collected amount this year.

“Earlier this month, we held a drive-through recycling initiative called ‘Waste to Wonders’, where about five tonnes of recyclable items like aluminium, e-waste, paper, plastics, fabrics and used cooking oil were collected.

“We hope that our activities will encourage more people to utilise the available recycling centres in Johor and do more for the environment,” she said.

Zaidatul Zurita said such activities can educate people that used cooking oil could be sold for money and, at the same time, ensure that the liquid was disposed off properly.

Improper disposal of cooking oil could contaminate water sources and clog pipes, causing sewage problems, she added.

Zaidatul Zurita said the foundation also held a book exchange and donation drive to keep books from ending up in garbage bins.

“Aside from extending the lifespan of books, this also encourages people to read more.

“The donated books will be sorted and distributed to the library in Teachers Education Temenggong Ibrahim Campus in Johor Baru.

“Some of them will also be donated to the Sultan Ismail Library, in hopes of giving more people access to a wide range of books,” she said.

Those interested in recycling their items can drop them off at recycling facilities operated by waste management concessionaire SWM Environment Sdn Bhd.

And through the KITARecycle app, users can accumulate points according to the amount of items sent for recycling, which can then be exchanged for money.

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

They can also drop off items at Masjid Jamek Bandar Kulai, Pusat NADI Taman Nilam in Pontian and SWM Environment regional office Pura Kencana in Batu Pahat.

According to the concessionaire, more recycling facilities will be introduced in areas such as Pasir Gudang and Simpang Renggam soon.