PJ Eco Recycling Plaza among ways for city council to reach target

Mohamad Azhan demonstrating how to use the reverse vending machine at PJ Eco Recycling Plaza in Petaling Jaya while deputy mayor Sharipah Marhaini Syed Ali looks on.

SINCE 2019, Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) has spent RM85mil on waste collection and public cleansing services, of which RM8.3mil was for rubbish disposal tipping fees.

While launching the new PJ Eco Recycling Plaza in Sungai Way Free Trade Industrial Zone, Petaling Jaya mayor Mohamad Azhan Md Amir said the cost was expected to increase as much as 35% due to the escalating quantity of wastes in the city.

“The tipping fee is expected to increase to RM55 per tonne by 2024, from RM36 per tonne.

“As such, MBPJ will adopt the best methods to increase recycling including reducing the use of resources at the planning stage as well as in design and reuse of equipment.

“We hope this will help to reduce the cost of waste disposal in Petaling Jaya,” he said.

An upcycling workshop being held at PJ Eco Recycling Plaza.

The mayor said MBPJ was targeting a 30% participation in the number of households for the recycling programme this year.

“It is expected to be expanded to all of MBPJ’s administrative areas by 2025,” he added.

Also present at the launch was MBPJ Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Department director Lee Lih Shyan.

Lee said MBPJ hoped the availability of the recycling centre would help encourage the people to practise sustainable living.

It was set up with collaboration from seven non-governmental organisations (NGO) and professional bodies.

Mohamad Azhan said that at the same time, MBPJ wanted to reward the people for their recycling and upcycling efforts.

Among the services provided at the three-floor plaza are collection of recycled and pre-loved items as well as an upcycling workshop and tools.

It is also equipped with an exhibition and sales gallery, learning facilities, food and organic waste treatment facilities, co-working office space, and seminar and training rooms which are expected to be a benchmark for 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) activities in Petaling Jaya and Selangor.

At the launch, MBPJ received contributions of RM15,000 and RM10,000 from Tetra Pak and Fraser & Neave Holding Bhd, respectively, to provide a reverse vending machine for PJ Echo Recycling Plaza.

Tetra Pak Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia sustainability director Terrynz Tan said the reverse vending machine would offer more convenience to consumers.

“They can deposit recyclables into the reverse vending machine and get rewarded.

“It’s like a regular vending machine where you put money in and get a product but the reverse happens here. You put in the packaging and you get points, rewards or incentives,” she explained.

Tan said the machines were designed to accept packaging materials such as plastic bottles, aluminium cans and paper-based beverage cartons.

To promote awareness of sustainable packaging, Tetra Pak has collaborated with PJ Eco Recycling Plaza as one of its key partners to set up a dedicated education booth at the plaza.

“Tetra Pak will also organise various community engagement activities like educational tours and talks as well as carton craft upcycling workshops at the plaza,” Tan added.

The plaza is open every Tuesday to Sunday, including public holidays, from 9am until 4.30pm.