Aluminium cans among the recyclable items collected. — Filepic
The door-to-door recyclable collection programme in Subang Jaya, Selangor will be expanded to include USJ areas next month.
Subang Jaya assemblyman Michelle Ng said the separation at source initiative had been well-received in the SS areas (SS12 to SS19) since it was introduced on Dec 1, last year and to better manage waste in the city, it would now include more neighbourhoods.
“Under Phase 2, the programme will cover USJ 1 to USJ 22.
“The results show that the single stream separation (SSS) at source collection model is working for the SS areas.
“We will implement Phase 2 on July 1 with KDEB Waste Management (KDEBWM),” she said.
She added that there were a few stages and her office had engaged with USJ community leaders on this initiative.
“The next move is to work with the area contractors to ensure that the workers are trained to handle the collection,” said Ng.
The doorstep collection service, which encourages residents to place recyclables such as newspapers, magazines, cardboards, carton boxes, plastic or glass bottles and aluminium cans into one bag, is an initiative by Ng’s office in collaboration with KDEBWM.
Mohd Khairudin says the door-to-door approach encourages more people to recycle.
With the door-to-door service, residents no longer have to cart all their recyclables to a recycling centre.
Additionally, the doorstep service takes place on days when domestic waste is collected from landed properties.
USJ has 19,776 landed properties based on Subang Jaya Draft Local Plan 2035.
According to KDEBWM statistics, from January to April this year, an estimated 105 tonnes of recyclables had been collected from SS households.
“We want to enhance recycling rates and decrease the volume of waste going towards landfills, where the approach we are implementing is community engagement,” she said.
Ng said landfills were the largest source of methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change, and through this effort, rubbish was recycled, contributing to a circular economy.
A circular economy sees discarded items kept in circulation through processes such as maintenance, reuse, refurbishment, recycling, and composting.
Ng said that the SSS collection method in the SS areas involved 10,374 landed houses.
USJ 11 resident Mohd Khairudin Abd Aziz, 61, said the door-to-door collection of recyclables using the SSS approach encouraged more people to recycle as there was no need to separate materials.
Businesswoman Siti Aisah Mohd Ibrahim, 43, a resident of USJ 17, said recycling was good for the environment and everyone had a responsibility to do their part in helping to reduce their carbon footprint.
“We need to reduce the amount of waste going to the landfills,” she added.
Safiee Mohammad, 74, a USJ 9 resident, said he hoped the initiative would change people’s behaviour in disposing of rubbish responsibly instead of littering.
