SIBU: Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) is expecting the volume of food waste dumped at the Jalan Kemuyang sanitary landfill to significantly reduce with the introducction of a high-speed crusher machine.
The machine works by processing food waste into organic fertiliser. The pilot project is a joint collaboration between the council and an environmental promotion group, Yut Leong.
Speaking at the launch of the machine, SMC deputy chairman Rogayah Jamain said food waste makes up the bulk of rubbish at the landfill.
“If you go to the landfill, you will see mountains of waste. It is not cheap to maintain a landfill.
“This machine can help us reduce waste ending up in the landfill,” she said.
Rogayah added the cleaning operator of the central market will collect the food waste from traders and put it into the machine placed which will be in the recycling centre there.
“If there is not enough food waste, those from other markets could also be sent here so that we can make full use of the machine,” she added.
Rogayah said if the project is successful, Yut Leong will be encouraged to put the machine in other markets and food courts.
“I would like to thank the private sector for purchasing this machine,” she said in describing the collaboration as a win-win situation.
The machine’s inventor Dr Chiu Chung Yong said organic fertilisers could be produced from food waste in two hours .
“The end product from the machine is of high quality and does not emit a foul smell or attract flies.
“Conventional methods of composting food waste can take up to 90 days,” he added.
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