Waste not: MPK Gardens and Recreation Department general worker Mohd Izhammuddin Alias holding wood chips (left) and mulch that is used as top soil. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star
TREES felled by strong winds and branches that are trimmed never go to waste in Klang.
Equipped with chainsaws and industrial wood chippers, the tree crew from Klang Municipal Council’s (MPK) Parks and Recreation Department is able to repurpose green waste into useful mulch.
Mulch is a covering of organic waste or synthetic material that is spread around the base of plants or trees or over the surface of one’s yard to retain moisture in the ground and keep weeds at bay.
Mohd Izhammuddin using the industrial wood chipper machine to make wood chips.
It also helps retain rainwater in the soil, reduce erosion and encourage earthworms to burrow in the soil to keep plants healthy.
Parks and Recreation Department deputy director Jasmi Hamzah, 49, said a wood chipper was a must-have as it helped the tree crew get the job done fast to remove trimmed branches and clear fallen trees along roads.
“Tree branches fed into the wood chipper are pulverised and then blown into the back of a rubbish truck.
“Once this is carried out at the site, the raw wood chips are transported to MPK’s makeshift mulching centre for it to be upcycled into mulch,” he explained.
Jasmi said wood chips processed into mulch would then be added to the mulch mound.
“Our wood mulch is organic. Branches trimmed off trees or trees felled at the end of their life or those struck down during thunderstorms are turned into wood chips.
“The mulch mound, on alternate days, is sprayed with water and the naturally occurring microorganisms help in the decaying process of the wood.
Jasmi: The department uses mulch for trees in public areas to reduce topsoil erosion and to return nutrients to the soil.
“The mulch is raked through several times a week.
It takes about three months for the process to be completed before the mulch can be used,” he said, adding that it would release an earthy aroma.
Jasmi said that once ready, the dark and crumbly mulch was used as a protective covering on top of the soil.
“Most of the mulch is made from senegal khaya, tabebuia rosea trees and raintrees which are grown along the municipality’s main roads and in residential areas.
“The department uses the mulch for trees in public areas to reduce top soil erosion caused by rain and to return nutrients to the soil,” he added.
Jasmi said the department’s core function was to manage trees in Klang.
The mulching activity was MPK’s effort towards greening the environment and preventing organic matter from going to waste, he added.
MPK president Noraini Roslan said mulching of fallen trees was a good way to upcycle discarded matter as it would create a living “blanket”, raise the nutrient level, topsoil perviousness and reduce strain on landfills.
“Soil is constantly recognised as an important non-renewable natural asset and we must properly manage it to ensure sustainable development.
Jasmi (white shirt), with Mohd Izhammudin checking on the mulch mound at the council’s nursery in Jalan Seruling 59 in Taman Klang Jaya.
“I am happy that the department is promoting soil health with emphasis on mulching,” she said, adding that mulch was given free to schools, government departments and places of worship.
“With a change in the weather patterns, we see trees toppling while others are affected by pests.
“Removing a fallen tree or pruning branches is expensive for the council.
“With a little innovation and task management, the department is able to produce 15 metric tonnes of mulch annually and this saves MPK in tipping fees of RM55 per tonne at the landfill,” said Noraini.
Besides mulching wood, the department also upcycles useable parts of fallen trees by turning them into handmade benches, tables and even planter boxes.
General worker Mohd Izhammuddin Alias said the tree crew volunteered time to build handmade furniture, which were placed in pocket gardens.
MPK’s tree crew upcycles fallen trees into benches which are placed at pocket gardens around Klang. — Photos: RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star
“There are 19 crew members and everyone has a creative streak.
“We have turned senegal khaya tree trunks into park benches and side tables, while raintree wood is used for making planter boxes,” he said.
He added that wood pieces not used for furniture-making would be turned into mulch.
Another worker, Sakunthala Thevi Nadarajah, who has been with MPK for 35 years, said the garden furniture required minimum investment as logs and tools such as a chainsaw, grinder, some varnish and volunteers were all one needed.
Noraini said she was happy to have a creative team committed to upcycling wood to create handcrafted furniture.
“The department is doing a good job in the sustainable management of trees. Fallen trees turned into furniture or mulch help maintain a delicate balance of the environment,” she said.
Klang Consumer Association president A. Devadass said MPK’s effort of turning fallen trees into mulch for topsoil was commendable as it helped protect the environment.
“It certainly helps the trees and shrubs planted along the roads as it keeps soil around the tree cooler in hot weather and reduces water loss from the soil surface. Use of mulch also encourages healthy tree or plant growth,” he said.
He also noted that MPK’s effort to produce mulch helped minimise the use of herbicides to kill weeds, as the mulch prevented lalang from growing.
Fallen trees given new life as benches and tables at MPK’s annex building off Jalan Raya Barat, Klang.
“The association is glad that the council has been proactive in reducing the amount of green waste going to the landfill,” he added.
Bandar Botanic resident Fong Tang Chong said it was encouraging to learn that MPK was able to produce good quality mulch from old trees, which was used to nurture the soil.
“I hope the council can spread the mulch for trees around Bandar Botanic and in Tasik Bandar Botanic as this will increase biological activity in the soil, especially worms and microbes to help the trees grow much better,” he added.
Taman Berkeley resident Shirley Sobey is pleased to see MPK turning fallen trees into garden furniture.
“It is nice to see old tree trunks being upcycled into furniture at pocket gardens and five-foot ways in the township.
“MPK’s effort is commendable as it sets an example to the public on using creativity to turn waste wood into furniture,” she said.
