KOTA KINABALU: Plastics remain the most significant trash contributors in waters in and around the city here, the Marine Research Foundation (MRF) found.
This information was recorded following the launch of their Mobula 8 floating waste collecting vessel in May last year.
Operated by a skipper with two crew members, the Mobula 8 has cleared over 2.3 tonnes of trash from the waters of Kota Kinabalu by December, 2025.
Lead coordinator for The Plastics Project under MRF, Chris Chai, said plastics made up the majority of collected waste (76%). These were primarily food wrappers, beverage bottles, grocery bags, plastic fragments, and foam packaging, she said.
She said the northeastern part of Gaya Island and the mainland-facing areas, where water villages are concentrated, were identified as waste hotspots.
Chai said the collected waste is segregated and sent to recycling centres and other partners. Over half a tonne of recyclable plastic (25% of the total waste collected) has been repurposed so far.
“All plastic waste collected by Mobula is currently sent to our partner on Gaya Island and Meraki Daat for upcycling into eco-bricks,” she said.
Chai added that on Jan 27, MRF would meet with local stakeholders and Sabah Parks authorities to discuss ways to tackle marine debris across the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.
