Lions Club of Perak Silver State and KOHIJAU Organise 3 in 1 Environment Project

 23 Feb 2025

Lions Club of Perak Silver State teamed up with KOHIJAU to organise the 3 in 1 Environment, Health Talk and Hunger Relief projects especially for Muslim Senior Citizens of Kinta Heights in conjunction with the upcoming Puasa and Hari Raya.

The projects initiated by Zone 14 Chairperson, Ln Dr. Richard Ng was participated by LCSPSS President, Ln Wong Tong Meng, VP Ln Tina Leong, BOD Members Ln Girlie Lim and Ln Shirley Foong as well as Ln Leong Cheok Lung from LC Ipoh Central, KOHIJAU Secretary Thinakaran and Mona from Plastic Recycling Factory.

25 senior citizens from Kinta Heights were given a talk on Climate Change and importance of taking climate Action to save our planet. They were also shown how to make eco-bricks.

The participants were also given a talk on health awareness especially High Blood Pressure, High Blood Sugar, Diabetes, Cholestetol and protecting their Liver.

After the talk they were presented Groceries and other food items to ease their burden on high cost of living in view of the upcoming Fasting month.

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