MBI aims to collect 100 tonnes of ewaste in 2024

ABOUT 284 metric tonnes of electronic waste (ewaste) have been collected by Ipoh City Council (MBI) since the collection campaign was launched three years ago.

Ipoh mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin said the collections helped to reduce the city’s carbon footprint – about 305 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) – through 401 collection programmes held since 2021.

“Our circular economy activities have been well-received by the people.

“As of May this year, we have collected 25 metric tonnes of ewaste and reduced 21.9 metric tonnes of CO2e through 55 collection programmes,” he said after a high-tea session with Ipoh-based bureau chiefs from media companies.

“Our target is to collect 100 metric tonnes of ewaste this year,” he added.

Rumaizi also said that about 335 metric tonnes of used cooking oil had been collected from 2023 up to May this year.

“This is equivalent to reducing about 6.3bil metric tonnes of CO2e.

“Some 1,057 premises were involved, including eateries, food-manufacturing factories, school canteens and hospital cafeterias,” he said, adding that the used cooking oil would be turned into biodiesel.

Rumaizi said the city council had been working with a recycling company since 2022 to collect used tyres for a pyrolysis process to produce secondary products like carbon, iron and fuel.

“As of April this year, about 3,632 metric tonnes of used tyres have been collected from about 100 tyre shops in the city.

“This is equivalent to a carbon footprint reduction of about 2,179 metric tonnes of CO2e,” he noted.

“We welcome the cooperation from the people to achieve our mission of becoming a low-carbon city by 2030.

“Our target is to reduce carbon footprint by about 45% through continuous circular economy activities,” he added.