SEPANG: Malaysia has become the first country in Asia to be recognised by Asean Records and Asia Records for a nationwide recycled sculpture initiative.
The project, implemented by the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp), features 45 sculptures made mostly from recycled materials and installed across several states including Johor, Pahang, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, Kedah and Selangor, and in Kuala Lumpur.
Asean Records and Asia Records managing director Gillian Ooi said the initiative creates public awareness of sustainable waste management, demonstrating that solid waste can yield high returns when processed creatively, Bernama reported.
“This project shows that recycled materials can be turned into something beautiful. It also helps to educate the public that what we throw away can be reused in creative ways,” Ooi said after the dual award recognition ceremony here.
The record was for the Largest Single-Programme Multi-State Outdoor Recycled Sculpture Installation by a Government Agency, involving the installation of 45 sculptures in eight states within six months.
Each sculpture contains between 60% and 100% recycled materials, exceeding the minimum 50% requirement for record recognition.
The sculptures vary in size and are placed in public and tourist areas to attract visitors and promote environmental awareness.
Ooi added that based on their research, no other country in Asean or across Asia has implemented a similar nationwide, government-led effort combining public art, sustainability and tourism on this scale.
