GEORGE TOWN: While the vibrant sights and irresistible aromas of iftar treats fill Ramadan bazaars, tens of tonnes of food are discarded daily, highlighting a growing concern over food waste.
Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk A. Rajendran (pic) said up to 30 tonnes of waste are collected each day from 26 Ramadan bazaars on the island, amounting to an estimated 900 tonnes for the month.
To address the issue, he said MBPP has this year implemented a greener initiative by deploying a machine for processing food waste at the Bayan Putra Ramadan Bazaar.
“The machine separates food waste into three parts, namely oil, finely ground food particles and clear water, with the ground food subsequently turned into compost.
“Used cooking oil will be collected for recycling into biodiesel, and we are collaborating with Petronas to facilitate its collection from all Ramadan bazaars,” he said, Bernama reported.
Rajendran said the pilot initiative aims to reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfills while educating traders and the public on the importance of proper waste segregation.
In addition to the initiative in Bayan Putra, the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has also installed waste segregation bins at four other prominent locations, specifically at the Ramadan bazaars situated at Masjid Umar Ibnu Al-Khattab in Bayan Baru, Balik Pulau, Prangin Mall and Jalan Mahkamah in Bayan Lepas.
The initiative allows traders to more effectively separate food waste, thereby reducing the pressure on landfills and helping to mitigate pollution. Additionally, there are plans to extend the deployment of machines and bins to more locations next year.
“Our monitoring shows that consumers have begun using the waste segregation bins, but more needs to be done to raise public awareness,” he said.
He added that, despite the focus on sustainability, Ramadan bazaars remain a key driver of the local economy, with 1,481 stalls approved this year, organised by the Village Community Management Councils, mosques, associations, and management bodies that submitted proposed locations to MBPP for review.
Rajendran said that each application undergoes a thorough review process, including site inspections and assessments by relevant agencies such as the police and the Public Works Department (JKR) for proposals involving road or area closures.
To ensure more inclusive participation, he said MBPP has set low licence and garbage collection fees, around RM3 per day for each stall, allowing traders to maintain affordable selling prices, while stall fees vary according to size but remain reasonable.
He added that the Ramadan bazaars are expected to generate an estimated RM75mil in economic value while creating some 5,000 additional jobs.
Regarding food safety, Rajendran said MBPP is working closely with the State Health Department to ensure traders comply with prescribed requirements, including receiving typhoid vaccinations and wearing aprons, gloves and head coverings when handling food.
