Waste not: Rashidah and Rohaizat (right) and other officers inspecting textiles collection bins at Taman Kejiranan Desa Mawar, Penang. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: After 67.6 tonnes of old clothing were kept out of landfills last year, Penang aims to triple its textile recycling collection this year.
Penang Island City Council’s urban services director Rashidah Jalaludin said the target followed encouraging public response since the programme began in August last year.
“The collection can be doubled or even tripled this year, provided the people continue to cooperate,” she told a press conference at the textile recycling collection centre in Taman Kejiranan Desa Mawar yesterday.
She said any increase would depend largely on public participation and community-driven initiatives rather than enforcement.
Rashidah said nearly 90% of daily waste collected consisted of recyclable materials, with textiles now a key focus area.
Waste separation had to become a daily habit, as the council alone could not meet its sustainability targets, she said.
“Where residents worked together, results followed. Penang has the potential to become a model state for sustainable waste management,” she said.
The city council currently operates 31 textile collection centres and 45 bins across the island.
Rashidah said sites were selected based on demand and community readiness.
“Bins are not placed randomly. Engagement with local leaders, village community management councils and discussions at council level are needed to ensure residents are willing to participate,” she said.
She said the collected textiles were sorted for recycling, reusing or repurposing.
Wearable items are sold at minimal prices to benefit low-income groups, while others are used for design projects, industrial cleaning or processed into new products, such as clothing and footwear.
She said there was no cash incentive at present, though the programme included a reward system through collaborations with fashion companies offering vouchers or other incentives.
Earlier, Rashidah, along with city councillor Rohaizat Hamid and Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng checked two textile collection bins at the park.
Rohaizat said the initiative was implemented in August last year through a collaboration with Life Line Clothing Malaysia as part of efforts to strengthen sustainable waste management.
He said Penang generated about 1,300 tonnes of solid waste daily, with roughly 500 tonnes separated through recycling, while the rest went to landfills.
Taman Kejiranan Desa Mawar recorded 1.25 tonnes of textile waste over five months, placing it among the top five areas on the island for textile collection, he said.
Through the collaboration, Life Line Clothing Malaysia managed textile waste collection to prevent it from ending up in landfills, he said.
Rashidah explained that the programme aimed to teach the public how to incorporate the 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) culture into their daily lives.
“Residents are encouraged to donate used clothing and textiles at the designated bins,” she said.
