Turning their backs on trash - The Star Metro Perak

5 Feb 2018 by Ivan Loh

(From left) Thinakaran, Ninderjeet and Visveswara sorting recyclable items at the Kampung Jelapang Tambahan community recycling collection centre.

KAMPUNG Jelapang Tambahan now is a far cry from what it was before 2015.

While Rubbish and illegal dumpsites could be found along many of the roads there just three years, things changed significantly after the village started its Community Recycling Project.

Jelapang Rukun Tetangga chairman S. Thinakaran said the village becoming cleaner is all thanks to the project and the caring residents.

“With the current use of the Kohijau-iCycle reward-for-recycling system, it’s getting even better.

“I am not saying there are completely no dumpsites, but they have been reduced significantly – I think by about 90%,” Thinakaran said.

“Among the areas that have seen great improvement in the village are Lorong 4, 8, 14, 16, and 22, though garden waste is still an issue here and there,” he said.

“There are also no longer any complaints about the scheduled rubbish collection by the Ipoh City Council,” he said, adding that there are about 250 households in the village.

“About 30% of the people here are participants of the recycling activities.

“Even the mentality of the younger generation here has changed,” he said.

“They realise the importance of the recycling we do. Many of them are doing their part,” he added.

Thinakaran said the RT is using its own money allocated by the National Unity and Integration Department to pay the residents for their contributions.

“Every month, we pay out between RM250 and RM300 to the contributing residents. They bring in some 400 to 500kg of recyclable items monthly,” he said, adding that Kohijau-iCycle does the record-keeping for the recycling project.

Thinakaran said he is very grateful that there is a group of core people in Jelapang Tambahan who are close-knit and work hard to ensure the recycling programme is a success.

The Kampung Jelapang Tambahan community recycling collection centre

“They always listen to advice about keeping the environment clean have built bonds that help them work together effectively.

“We have our own a Whatsapp chat group about the collection of recyclable items and activities,” he said.

“Of course, there are still some who are not cooperative, despite numerous attempts to get them to join us. Hopefully, one day, we can get through to them,” he added.

Thinakaran said he hopes that the other communities in Jelapang will join them for their recycling efforts.

“Sad to say, not many people here are interested. I really think that Jelapang would be better and cleaner if everyone took part.

Thinakaran said the village’s RT has also been selected by the National Unity and Integration Department to be a model for its community projects for this year.

Kampung Jelapang Tambahan resident R. Visveswara is proud of the clean community field

“We got the letter earlier this month. The departments want us to submit reports on how we can help generate revenue for residents in housing areas or local communities,” he said.

He also said he hopes the residents at Kampung Jelapang Tambahan will continue with the recycling programme so that the village can become the cleanest in the country.

“I also hope the mentality of the people will change to become more civic-minded about the environment and cleanliness.

“I would like to see, one day, that people here automatically pick up any rubbish found on the road,” he said.

Resident R. Visveswara said those involved with the Community Recycling Project campaigned from door to door, urging the residents to join in and take part.

“When the Kohijau-iCycle recycling-for-rewards system started, more and more people got interested.

“While we used to separate our garbage, it has become easier now with Kohijau-iCycle as we just throw everything in bags and these will be sorted by the recycling organisation,” said Visveswara, who is also the village’s RT secretary.

“We hold the recycling project once every fortnight,” he said.

“There are other residents who are selling their recyclable items to recycling centres in Silibin, but we don’t mind as long as they are recycling,” he added.

Another resident, housewife Ninderjeet Kaur, said since learning about composting from the Community Recycling Project, she has been actively doing so.

“It’s not hard. We just need to bury the organic waste in soil and let nature do its job.

“It will normally turn into compost within five to six weeks,” said the housewife.

“The compost can then be used as fertiliser for gardening and small-scale farming,” she said.

Ninderjeet said she gathers organic waste, like fruit peel or leftover vegetables, from some neighbours for composting.

“I always tell them not to throw the waste into the rubbish bin. I bring it back home for composting,” she said, adding that many of the villagers are now composting, all having learned from the recycling programme.

https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2018/02/05/turning-their-backs-on-trash-villagers-efforts-shine-as-an-example-of-tackling-cleanliness/