Launching of KOHIJAU Trash2Cash Sustainable Recycling System

28 Feb 2019

Launching by Tuan Haji Abd Hadi Bin Mohd Salleh at Jelapang Tambahan

KOHIJAU took another bolder step by introducing a new Trash2Cash Sustainable Recycling System which is used to educate the public especially among the B40 group of societies.

           Gimmick launch of KOHIJAU Trash2Cash System by Tuan Haji Abd Hadi Bin Mohd Salleh at Jelapang Tambahan

The system was launched at a simple ceremony organised in collaboration with Rukun Tetangga Jelapang's Cleanliness Campaign, at Lorong Jelapang 16 in Jelapang Tambahan on 24 February 2019 by the Perak Director of the Department of Unity and National Integration, Tuan Haji Abd Hadi Bin Mohd Salleh, who oversee the running of Rukun Tetangga in Perak.

In his speech, Tuan Haji Hadi congratulated the Rukun Tetangga Jelapang for their effort in organising such an event which have great impact on the people. Besides fostering unity and bringing the community together, the campaign especially the Trash2Cash syste can help the B40 folks in Jelapang Tambahan to earn supplement income while keeping the environment clean.

Sample Member's KOHIJAU Trash2Cash Barcode Stickers

He also congratulated KOHIJAU's Chairman, Associate Professor Dr Richard Ng, for his tireless effort in promoting recycling. He joked that Dr Richard is qualified to be awarded the Champion of Environment award to help the society embrace recycling through the Social Business concept where the focus is to solve social problem while generating income to sustain the activities.

Earlier, Dr Richard Ng give a briefing on the Trash2Cash System to the participants. According to him, the Trash2Cash  system allows participants who segregate their garbage into three main categories of recyclables mainly Plastics, Papers and Metal and either bring them to the KOHIJAU's designated collection centre twice a month during collection schedule and get paid cash based on market rate. Participants can also choose to drop their segregated recyclables, paste a membership barcode sticker before dropping into KOHIJAU's recycling bin at participating locations.

The system is based on sharing concept where recycling members get paid for their recyclables based on market rate. KOHIJAU collects the recyclables and sell it to an appointed recycler, who will pay KOHIJAU a higher rate. The difference, after deducting payment to members, will then be shared among the collector, the Social Business Units (who are KOHIJAU's partners in recycling) and KOHIJAU. Thus everyone involved in the system will get paid based on amount of recyclables contributed by members and results in a sustainable recycling system.

For the system to be successful, all participants must play their roles in segregating their garbage and ensure only clean recyclables are brought in.

According to Dr Richard, the system is based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour concept where humans are perceived to be rational and have control over what they do which leads to their belief and intention towards attaining a particular behaviour.

This is the third recycling version introduced by KOHIJAU. The first version was launched on April 2015 and used successfully in Jelapang Tambahan using the simple direct thrash for cash method. The second version was launched in January 2017 using the ICYCLE recycling point system, where members collect recycling points which can then be redeemed with cash or coupons. The system however was not well received by the public especially the B40 group where they find much hassle in checking their points and redemption via online.

This third version pay contributors cash upon delivery and weight during collection day. Contributors who dropped their recyclables into designated bins through our Social Business Units or Partners will have their recyclables weight and paid into their bank account end of every month based on current market price. This way members do not have to wait to get paid for their efforts.

KOHIJAU hope to launch at several locations via Rukun Tetangga or schools as partners. There is no joining fee as members or partners. All they have to do is to fill a form which can be obtained throug whatsapp services via 013-5330989 or e-mail to kohijau.perak@gmail.com.

KOHIJAU awarded the Anugerah Rakan Perpaduan

17 Feb 2019

KOHIJAU receive another award. This time from Jabatan Perpaduan dan Kesejahteraan Sosial where KOHIJAU was presented with the Anugerah Rakan Perpaduan.

KOHIJAU's treasurer, Mr. Thinakaran Sarangabanly received the award on behalf of KOHIJAU from Deputy Minister of National Unity and Social Wellbeing, YB Datuk Wira Dr. Md Farid Bin Md Rafik on 17 Feb 2019. Presence include Perak State Department of National Unity and Integration Director,Tuan Haji Abd Hadi Bin Mohd Salleh and three other KOHIJAU board members, Halida Ali, Azura and Ninderjeet Kaur.

The award was given to KOHIJAU in recognition of its continuous efforts in helping Rukun Tetangga in Perak in promoting Social Business via a sustainable "Trash to Cash" recycling system.

One of the most successful programmes was carried out with RT Jelapang for folks in Jelapang Tambahan to help them earn additional income, reduce garbage from ending up in illegal dumpsites and rivers, reduce dengue cases as well as improve the wellness of the people. This is in line with SDG Agenda 2030 where "No one should be left behind".

The project which was started in April 2015 has also been awarded the JCIM SDA 2018 "Best of the Best" and "Best in Climate Change" awards in September 2018.

YB Datuk Rusnah Kassim (Centre) helped launch the Trash2Cash Sustainable Recycling System together with Puan Hajah Fatimah Ahmad, Perak SWCorp Director on 4th April 2015 

Dr. Richard Ng together with other KOHIJAU's board member on stage to receive the JCIM SDA2018 "Best of the Best Award" from UN Asia Residence Director on Sept 10, 2018

Todate, KOHIJAU has helped several NGOs and organisations and schools in recycling activities. Some of them has won national awards. These include; RT Jelapang, Selama District Police HQ, Kpg Slim Village, SMK Raja Perempuan Ipoh and SMK Yuk Choy Ipoh.

Dr. Richard Ng, Puan Noraini and Mr. Thinakaran at Jelapang to collect recyclables from shops who particpated in the Trash2Cash recycling system

Dr. Richard Ng was presented the Letter of Commendation from Selama Police District Chief in 2018 for his effort in helping them in emerging as National Champion for Cleanliness and Recycling

The projects were spearheaded by KOHIJAU's chairman, Associate Prof. Dr. Richard Ng in collaboration with Perak SWCorp and Ipoh City Council.

April 15, 2015 By Tan Mei Kuan

Dr. Richard Ng (2nd from left) and Datuk Rusnah Kassim (centre) launching the Trash to Cash Recycling System

The first community recycling project involving the residents of Kampung Jelapang Tambahan was launched by the Executive Councillor for Women Development, Family and Welfare, Dato’ Hajah Rusnah Kassim at the Jelapang Community Hall recently. The programme was jointly organised by Ipoh City Watch, Perak Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation and Rukun Tetangga Jelapang.

With the rise of illegal dump sites in the city, this first-of-a-kind programme is aimed at inculcating good habits in residents and to encourage them to keep the environment clean. This can be achieved by garbage separation and recycling which can help residents to earn an extra income.

Kampung Jelapang Tambahan, which has some 226 households, was picked to spearhead this programme thus becoming the first community in Malaysia to use this technique of garbage separation.

Residents are taught how to separate unwanted items into various recyclable categories before selling it to an appointed collector who comes every Saturday from 8am-11am.

The weight of the items collected would be recorded for a period of 3 months and a correlation be established between the weight and the number of illegal dumpsites. The success of this project would create a model which could be emulated by other resident associations in Malaysia.

In her speech, Dato’ Hajah Rusnah called on Ipohites to support the initiative in order to achieve success. “If they don’t come forward, nothing will happen,” she said during the press conference.

http://www.ipohecho.com.my/v4/article/2015/04/16/community-recycling-model-launched

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/

22 November 2015

More than 500 people attended the Deepavali cum safety and health programme organised by Ipoh City Watch in collaboration with Rukun Tetangga Jelapang and PEMADAM Kinta dan several government agencies and private sectors as part of our CSR progarmme.

Dato Samsudin Abu Hassan, Perak State Committee Chairman for the Development of Entrepreneurial and Cooperatives, Consumer Affairs, Civil Society and NGO represented by Tuan Haji Tarmidzi Abd Manap, Kinta District Officer, has graced the function which began at 2pm until 6 pm.

3 speakers were invited to speak during the function; ACP Suresh Kumar on Crime Prebvention and Community Safety, Pn Halida Ali onDomestic Violence and Assoc. prof. Dr. Rihard Ng on the PEMADAM Perak 5-year Blueprint and action plans.

The public were treated to an expo which comprised of a display of new Police Cars and Motorcycles, the danger of drugs and activities by Kinta anti-narcotics agency, Recycling and garbage sepearation by SWcorp Perak, Dengue and Health Screen by Health Department and Pantai Hospital, Eye Test by PPIS, and Educational programmes by Open University Malaysia.

The programme was made possible with the help of the Perak State Givernment via PEMADAM Perak.

The Kinta folks were also treated to a Deepavali Delicacies. About 100 Children below the age 12 were given Deepavali 'Angpow'. ore than 100 senior citizens and single mothers were presented with goodie bags contributed by Ipoh City Watch and several

500 Masyarakat Berbilang Kaum Meriahkan Pesta Cahaya Deepavali - Perak Today

22 November 2015

IPOH: Lebih 500 masyarakat berbilang kaum dari sekitar Daerah Kinta telah memeriahkan program ‘Pesta Cahaya Deepavali’ dan Kesejahteraan Rakyat yang berlangsung di Dewan Orang Ramai Jelapang, di sini, petang tadi.

Program yang dianjurkan oleh Persatuan Mencegah Dadah Malaysia (PEMADAM) dengan sokongan Kerajaan Negeri Perak serta agensi-agensi kerajaan bertujuan untuk meraikan masyarakat India yang beragama Hindu.

Menurut Naib Pengerusi PEMADAM Perak, Profesor Madya Dr. Richard Ng, antara tujuan lain program itu adalah untuk memberi kesedaran kepada masyarakat tentang keselamatan.

“Program ini adalah untuk memberi kesedaran tentang pentingnya komuniti mengambil tindakan pencegahan jenayah,” katanya.

Turut hadir sama, Pegawai Daerah Kinta, Tarmidzi Abu Hassan yang mewakili Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Hal Ehwal Pengguna, Pembanguna Usahawan, Koperasi, NGO dan Masyarakat Sivil, Datuk Samsudin Abu Hassan.

Program berkenaan turut diserikan dengan ekspo yang diadakan oleh agensi-agensi kerajaan seperti Agensi anti-Dadah Kebangsaan (ADK), Open University Malaysia (OUM), dan Hospital Pantai Ipoh.

Disamping itu, seramai 100 orang kanak-kanak bawah umur 12 tahun turut diraikan dengan pemberian sumbangan duit raya.

Seramai 100 orang warga emas dan ibu tunggal miskin juga tidak terkecuali daripada menerima bantuan berbentuk barangan makanan sumbangan Ipoh City Watch dan Rukun Tetangga Jelapang.

Whose 'baby' is the 40-year-old flood problem in Jelapang town? - Malaysiakini

May 4, 2010

Is it the concern of the Ipoh City Council, the state Public Works Department (PWD), the Kinta District Land Office or the state Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID), asks Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM).

Party national deputy chairperson M Saraswathy (left) told Malaysiakini today that the four departments have kept passing the buck to each other and refused to provide a solution.

PSM had collected some 2,500 signatures from Jelapang residents in March and handed a memorandum - with photos of the flooded areas - to each of the four departments on April 2. To date there has been no response.

The flooding problem started when the North-South Highway (Plus) Jelapang toll-gate was opened and it worsened after the Lumut Highway was opened to traffic.

This because there is no proper drainage system to deal with the surface run-off, claimed Saraswathy.

She said Jelapang has developed into a key transit point for movement of people from east Perak to the state's west coast where Lumut and Pangkor are located.

Old, narrow drains the cause

The low-lying areas of Jelapang town from the Petronas petrol station towards the Plus Highway are flooded each time there is a heavy shower and this results in two-way traffic jams.

Business premises situated on the main trunk road are affected and personal property is often damaged.

The flooding is due to the old, narrow drains in the area, which are unable to cope with the increasing volume of water run-off.

Saraswathy said it is about time the four departments visit the flood-prone area and come up with a solution.

She said a comprehensive report on flood mitigation should be prepared.

"As an interim measure, the respective departments must use their contingency funds (to provide a solution) without any more delays or excuses," she added.