Mohd Akmal (second from left) placing a computer monitor into an ewaste collection bin at the D.R. Seenivasagam Park in Ipoh. With him is Ipoh mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin (left).
The Perak government hopes to collect between 400 and 500 tonnes of ewaste for its campaign this year.
State environment committee chairman Mohd Akmal Kamaruddin believes this is an achievable target as more than 300 tonnes had been accumulated last year, which was the highest in the country.
“The key performance index (KPI) this year is 80 tonnes.
“In 2021, the KPI was 40 tonnes and we collected nearly 340 tonnes, which is high,” he said at a press conference after a soft launch of the state-level National Environ-ment Day at D.R. Seenivasagam Park in Ipoh on Friday.
“Usually, states with flood issues have the highest amount of ewaste but we are the highest and we do not experience serious floods.”
Mohd Akmal said the Ipoh City Council and state Environment Department were jointly organising the collection campaign in conjunction with National Environment Day.
He said the campaign was meant to create public awareness on the importance of disposing of ewaste safely to protect the environment.
“Materials such as lead and cadmium in electronic and electrical items are hazardous to health.
“We want to create a culture where people will dispose of ewaste properly for the sake of our well-being as well as our environment,” he said.
Mohd Akmal said ewaste collection would take place on the third weekend of each month until Nov 30.
“There are five ewaste collection points — Bercham Rukun Tetangga centre, Jelapang Public Hall, Pasir Pinji Community Hall, Rapat Setia night market and Padang Lintau Rukun Tetangga’s premises in Manjoi,” he said, adding that collection time was from 8am to 1pm.
“For electronic and electrical items that are no longer in use, just exchange these for some cash tokens, instead of throwing these out irresponsibly.
“Those who send in their ewaste also stand a chance of taking part in a lucky draw,” he added.
For details on the campaign, call 012-516 9009 (Visvanathan) or 017-510 5593 (Nurul Izzaty).
