PETALING JAYA: There is cash in trash – and lots of it, too.
Participants of the “Trash to Cash” programme, organised by the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp), have been able to generate additional income by recycling items such as bottles, cardboard boxes, and used cooking oil.
If separated and recycled, solid waste can become a side income for all, said SWCorp.
“From January to June this year, an estimated 9,363 tonnes of recycled goods – or a total of 9,362,575.61kg – have been successfully collected with a value of over RM4.074mil.
“The estimated number of participants involved in the Trash to Cash programme was 230,080 people,” SWCorp told The Star.
The programme was held in 6,807 locations, comprising various target groups, including communities, kindergartens, schools, higher learning institutions, government offices and industries.
Trash to Cash began in August 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the SWCorp collaborated with the residents’ association and building management representatives in an effort to implement a recycling programme.
Following the programme’s positive impact, Trash to Cash has continued until today.
Under the programme, participants can trade in their recyclable materials, such as cardboard boxes, newspapers, magazines, aluminium cans, plastic, used cooking oil and others, for money.
According to SWCorp, the appointed vendor is required to pay a price based on the current market value of recycled goods.
Items not allowed include kitchen waste, food waste, dirty materials and disposable diapers, it added.
The programme’s main target is to reinvigorate recycling activities in the community.
“Besides saving recyclables from ending up in the landfill, it can also provide returns or side income for individuals who recycle.
“The implementation of this programme is also in line with Strategy 3.2 of the National Cleanliness Policy, which is to generate income from waste and to support the 12th goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is Responsible Consumption and Production, to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns,” said the SWCorp.
Trash to Cash has been implemented in states that have adopted the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672), a law that makes waste separation mandatory for residents.
The states and federal territories subject to Act 672 are Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Pahang, Johor, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Perlis and Kedah.
To ensure a high level of community participation, SWCorp said it was taking the approach of organising more community-oriented programmes centred on cultivating the 3R (reuse, reduce, recycle) culture, with the involvement of stakeholders such as government agencies as well as private and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Social media is also used to share information directly with the community.
“Maintaining cleanliness is a shared responsibility and is not the sole responsibility of the government.
“This responsibility requires support and cooperation from various levels of society in ensuring that the cleanliness of the environment can be maintained.
“The issues and challenges faced in making Malaysia a clean country must be given serious attention by all parties,” said SWCorp.
The community can obtain information and participate in the Trash to Cash programme through announcements on SWCorp’s official social media.
Residents’ associations and agencies are also welcome to organise the programme by seeking SWCorp’s advisory services.
