THE Global Alliance For Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) has estimated that an average of 0.37 tonnes (370kg) of plastic waste are disposed into the sea annually by Malaysians, said Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) president Datuk Rozali Mohamud.
“GAIA’s Asia Pacific Regional coordinator Froilan Grate had revealed this during the Zero Waste Cities Conference 2018 held in Bandung, Indonesia, in March.
“They also revealed that Malaysia was the world’s eighth worst sea plastic polluter in 2015,” he said.
According to GAIA, China was the worst followed by Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Egypt and Thailand.
Rozali said plastic made up 14% of waste sent to the Pulau Burung landfill near Nibong Tebal since 2015.
“In 2015, plastic waste sent to the landfill was 61,664.46 tonnes and over the next two years it was 60,761.10 and 63,424.92 tonnes respectively.
He was speaking to reporters after Penang Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh opened an anti-plastic waste workshop at the MPSP Auditorium in Bandar Perda, Bukit Mertajam recently.
About 120 participants from schools, factories and communities attended the workshop conducted by Dr Tiew Kian Gee from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
The workshop was held to teach Seberang Prai residents the best method to manage plastic waste so that the environment could be protected.
Rozali also urged the participants to share the newly gained knowledge with their friends and families.
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