THE amount of food wasted in Kedah rises by about 240 tonnes a day during Ramadan, according to state Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) director Hazahar Hashim.
“Our study shows that the food thrown away are yet to be touched and are still edible.
“During Ramadan, the rubbish collected in Kedah would increase to 1,440 tonnes per day from 1,200 tonnes normally,” he said.
He expected this to rise further in the final 15 days of the fasting month as more from the city return to their villages.
Urging Muslims to practise moderation in eating, Hazahar also said events and venues known to contribute to food wastage the most were buka puasa buffets at eateries, open houses and private breaking of fast events.
Speaking at the recent launch of the waste segregation at source and ‘Value Food, Don’t Waste’ campaign in Billion Supermarket in Alor Setar, Hazahar said SWCorp discovered that Malaysians threw away up to 270,000 tonnes of food every Ramadan and urged Kedahans to help curb the wastage.
State Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Badrul Hisham Hashim officially launched the programme.
Badrul Hisham called on the public to help reduce food wastage and also maintain public hygiene.
He said the state’s festive season cleaning operations would be carried two weeks before Hari Raya, from now till June 24.
“The sites where all big rubbish bins on main roads and in villages will be cleaned up.
“Public markets will also be washed and even their ceilings will be cleaned by SWCorp.
“The city council will take action against litterbugs either in the form of warnings or compounds of between RM30 and RM300.
“We must play our roles to make sure our surroundings are clean and healthy for living.
“We must be thankful that we live in a peaceful country with ample food compared with other countries that face unstable conditions and war,” Badrul Hisham said.
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