ALMOST 70 tonnes of recyclable waste have been collected by Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) in a trash-to-cash programme.
MPAJ, in a media statement, said the total included 1,164.15kg of used cooking oil, 2,405.08kg of electronic waste and 66,424.19kg of recyclable items such as plastic, paper and aluminium.
Carried out throughout May, the programme was to encourage the local community to continue preserving the environment through recycling initiatives.
Residents earned RM2 for every kilogramme of used cooking oil, RM1 for aluminium, 20sen for electrical and electronic waste or recyclable items such as paper, boxes and plastic.
Glass, fabric, batteries and light bulbs are accepted without additional incentives.
Running almost weekly, the programme rotated between different zones under MPAJ’s administration, working closely with all 24 local councillors to bring the service directly into neighbourhoods.
Community centres, housing areas, mosques and schools are among the spots for residents to drop off the recyclables.
The spots included Bukit Indah Mosque parking area, Pangsapuri Rasmi (Taman Rasmi Jaya), Jalan Jujur 1/8 (Taman Bakti Ampang), Padang Perbandaran MPAJ Pandan Indah, SJK (C) Choon Hwa Lembah Maju and community halls of Angsana Hilir and Jalan Hilir 7 in Ampang.
“We partnered with licensed companies – TTD Metal for recyclables, Electronic Recycling Through Heroes (ERTH) for e-waste, and Weimar Sdn Bhd, Waumas and Seri Gunung for used cooking oil to manage waste responsibly.
“We plan to broaden our initiative further by exploring a plastic-to-diesel conversion project, reinforcing the vision for a circular economy.
“In the long term, the trash-to-cash programme aims to significantly reduce landfill waste and raise the recycling rate to 15%, in line with Selangor government’s First Selangor Plan (RS-1),” MPAJ added.
The municipal council also stated that it was in the midst of developing a recycling site in Dewan Kampung Perwira Jaya.
“This 3.011m site can accommodate waste collected in MPAJ’s administrative area.
“MPAJ is also collaborating with KDEB Waste Management and waste collecting companies registered with MPAJ,” said MPAJ, adding that proceeds from the sale of the wastes would be added to the local council’s coffers.
