Kota Kinabalu’s First Recycling Centre

Tzu Chi Recycling Centre

The first recycling centre in Kota Kinabalu was officially opened recently. The developer, Sinar Pembangunan, has leased out the centre at a token rental fee of RM1/-. Senior citizens living in the vicinity have been gathering in this centre since it started operation in July 2012.

"Ready, one, two, three... pull!" A pack of recyclables hanging in the air was released to signify the official launch of Tzu Chi Kota Kinabalu's first recycling centre.

The launching ceremony for Tzu Chi's Taman Suria Recycling Centre in Penampang was held on November 3, 2012. As the centre is provided by Sinar Pembangunan at a token rental fee of RM1/-, it was fitting that representatives from the developer were invited to witness this significant moment. This project was realized after volunteers made several attempts to communicate Tzu Chi's efforts in protecting the environment to the local developer.

Lim How Gong, Manager of Sinar Pembangunan said, "We have built 2,000 houses in Taman Suria and Penampang to accommodate 20,000 residents." He supports what Tzu Chi is doing for the environment and is confident that the centre will enhance the residents' awareness in protecting Mother Earth.

Since its operation in July 2012, the centre has been collecting four tons of recyclables every month. Volunteers have been disseminating information on environmental protection to the residents, as well as, taught them how to sort recyclables into different categories.

Contributing on behalf of late husband

In order to educate more people on environmental protection, retiree Kong Siew Ying, who is in charge of the centre, has made extra efforts in providing free transportation to those who are keen to help out at the centre.

Siew Ying said, "I am willing to take up these two tasks, that is, to be the person-in-charge of the centre and to fetch those who are keen to help to the centre." Besides treating it as a responsibility, she hopes to fulfill her late husband's wish to contribute to environmental protection. Her late husband was a Tzu Chi volunteer, who passed away a few years ago.

Age is not a problem

Tzu Chi's Taman Suria Recycling Centre opens every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am to 4pm. Sixty-year old Leong Soh Moi always accompanys her husband, a stroke victim, in sorting recyclables.

Soh Moi informed, "Before this, we are either watching TV or sleeping at home. Through providing assistance at the centre, our lives have become meaningful. Besides, it is also a form of exercise for us; and this is extremely helpful to my husband, who had a stroke before."

Hiew Kon Kun, a 63-year old retiree, said, "I feel happy that I am able to help out at the centre. Initially, I was quite worried about my inability to help at the centre due to my age. But, when I saw other senior citizens handling the task of sorting recyclables with ease, my fear dissipated. I then promised myself that I need to come here more often to contribute my efforts in protecting the environment."

Read more on: tzuchi.my

Read More

Care for the nature

A campaign to create environmental awareness is gaining momentum although some consumers appeared not too keen on doing their bit.

Several ventures to help create a healthier environment and ensure its sustainability have met with some encouraging results.

The Malaysian government is hoping to ensure greater success in keeping the landscape not only intact but also enhanced.

For starters, Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) has planted exactly 1,000 trees under the country’s first ever environmental programme for business tourism.

The campaign, aptly named “Let’s Meet & Green”, was launched by MyCEB in November 2011 in support of the government’s commitment to offset carbon emissions by 40% by 2020.

This programme was launched in line with the Tourism Ministry’s “1Malaysia Green, 1Malaysia Clean” campaign. Under this programme, participants contribute a minimum of RM31.

The contributions will be channelled to the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) for its tree-planting activity. This is part of an overall strategy being formulated by the government to ensure that there is a steady decline in the amount of carbon emissions until 2020.

The 1,000 trees planted came from the contributions of the 18th World Congress of Accountants 2010 (600 trees), Institute of Internal Auditors Association International Conference 2011 (250), Malaysia Meetings Innovation Day 2011 (100) and MyCEB’s internal staff (50).

Early this year, 25 MyCEB’s employees, accompained by FRIM representatives, gathered at FRIM in Kuala Lumpur for a tree-planting activity and the installation of a plaque. The event is among a number of activities lined up by MyCEB for this year to plant more trees around the country.

MyCEB CEO Zulkefli Sharif said that by participating in this campaign, planners and event organisers can leave a lasting environmental legacy in Malaysia by preserving, conserving and protecting nature.

Zulkefli hopes to plant thousands more trees in the future as part of efforts to educate business partners about this campaign.

Reducing plastic bags

However, in Sabah, a green campaign launched last year to reduce the use of plastic bags has fallen short of its target.

Kota Kinabalu City Hall had launched the “No Plastic Bag” campaign with the noble intention of protecting the environment, convincing 225 outlets to join in to raise public awareness in cutting down the use of plastic bags.

Under the campaign, customers were encouraged to bring their own shopping bags, and would be charged 20 sen by participating outlets, for each plastic bag used on a Monday. Later, it was extended to include Saturdays and Sundays.

However, Kota Kinabalu residents were not too keen on curtailing the use of plastic bags judging from the high number of the bags purchased, said Mayor Abidin Madingkir.

Abidin added that this showed environmental awareness is very low in the city and he appealed to all residents to participate vigorously in the campaign.

As adviser to the KK Environmental Action Centre, Abidin said KK City Hall would strive to persuade business operators to join in the campaign including night market hawkers.

KK City Hall hoped to meet the participating outlets to discuss problems faced by them in implementing the campaign, including dealing with customers who were upset at having to pay for the plastic bags.

Change for the better

Back to the Peninsula, students of SMK Bandar Sunway Special Class Alumnus were overjoyed to paint green-themed murals in their classrooms using paint sponsored from a paint company, Mr Paint Man Sdn Bhd. The students were doing their bit for the environment.

The students painted eight classrooms in striking colours such as Bloo Blue, Dino Rex, Stitch, Pink Panther and Sweet Lilo.

This initiative was organised in conjunction with the official launch of the “Paint a Greener Future for Our World” campaign by Mr Paint Man.

Under this programme, Mr Paint Man will continue to collaborate with various schools to provide them with a sustainable, healthy and hygienic environment.

These initiatives are a good start on educating and creating awareness of the environment. But more Malaysians should make it a point to learn and participate in these programmes.

Only then will these initiatives bear fruit. Only then will there be a change for the better in the environment and Malaysians can look forward to an enhanced quality of life.

Christopher Fernandez has been teaching and writing throughout Asia since 1984.

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/03/27/a-good-start-to-care-for-nature/

Green Sabah says: It is quite disappointing to find that awareness campaign about the use of plastic bags has not received encouraging response from the community. Authorities and NGOs must do more to bring awareness to the public. Emphasis on the importance of protecting the environment should be taught from the school. Early exposure could bring awareness to the younger generation. We are able to change it.

Read More