A RECYCLING programme where people turn in rubbish for points that can be exchanged for gifts will be first conducted at a school and condominium in Ipoh.
Koperasi Alam Hijau Perak Bhd (Kohijau) Chairman Prof Dr Richard Ng said the programme, a collaboration with recycling company iCycle Malaysia, will be conducted at SMK Raja Chulan and Loyal Garden Residences.
“The school is set to begin the programme this Saturday.
“The programme will begin at the condominium by the year-end. An agreement has been made with the condominium’s management and all its residents will be programme members,” he said during the launching of Kohijau’s office at Dataran Sunway by Hulu Kinta Assemblyman Datuk Aminuddin Md Hanafiah last Saturday.
“We will provide recycling bins for the segregated garbage,” he added.
Kohijau is a cooperative set up by members of non-governmental organisation Ipoh City Watch (ICW) to improve the livelihoods of people while keeping the environment clean.
The recycling-for-points programme requires participating members to segregate their waste for collection.
The collected waste is then weighed and points allocated to the members.
The points can then be used to redeem household items or vouchers.
Ng said each registered member will be given stickers with a barcode to be put on the garbage bag.
“They will need to put the sticker on the rubbish bag before dumping iy in the recycling bin.
“After the waste is collected, it will be weighed and different types of garbage will be allocated different points. The barcode will then be scanned to allocate the points to the respective members,” he said.
“Members then log in to iCycle Malaysia’s website to check their collected points. Everything will be computerised and easy,” he added.
iCycle Malaysia Director Prof Dr Tan Ching Seong said the recycling-for-points programme has already started in Pangkor and is doing well.
He said iCycle collects various wastes that are, clean and dry, and non-food.
The main objective, Tan said, is to lessen the omount of rubbish sent to landfills.
In his opening speech earlier, Aminuddin said the people need to change their attitude towards the environment.
“They always want places to be clean but they themselves don’t make an effort.
“The responsibility of keeping a place clean not only falls on the local council or state representatives but also the people,” he said.
“I think more engagement needs to be held with the people so they are aware and to take part in recycling programmes,” he added.
Aminuddin said the Kohijau-iCycle project could rope in village chiefs to explain to them its concept.
“If people can profit from segregating their rubbish, maybe this can change their mindset,” he said.
Aminuddin also said Kohijau should seek out primary schools to take part in its programmes.
“I think children will enjoy taking part in this programme more than adults.
“We also need to start teaching the concept of taking care of the environment to the children as early as possible,” he said, adding adults might find it harder to accept new concepts.
For more details on the recycling-for-points programme, visit www.gogreenonline.net.
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