Young residents using the new waste separation bins for paper, plastic and glass put up at the apartment block.

THE Nibong Indah apartment block in Sungai Nibong, Penang, has adopted waste segregation at source.

Its joint management board chairman Dr Mohd Nizam Sahad said the project required a collective effort from the hundreds of residents of all ages.

“We have 275 units here. The residents used to practise waste segregation individually in the past but now they must put their waste in the three bins prepared for them.

“We have engaged recycling companies to collect the waste and the funds collected can go towards the upkeeping of the apartment block,” he said at the launch of the segregation at source project at the Nibong Indah apartments recently.

“We have nine people in the household and all of us will throw the rubbish into the bins for plastic, paper and glass.

“We have to monitor the young so that they learn this habit too,” she said.

Zauyah says she prepared three dustbins at home to facilitate the programme.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the residents needed to spend only one minute a day to separate their waste to benefit the community.

“The Penang Island City Council and the Seberang Prai Municipal Council allocates RM95.64mil and RM98.99mil respectively in this year’s budget for the management of solid waste and public cleanliness.

“The recycling rate in Penang is the highest in Malaysia at 32%, three times higher than the national recycling rate which is 10.5%.

“I am confident that with the implementation of the policy, the recycling rate in Penang will further increase,” said Lim.

Also present was Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon.

Following the implementation of the statewide policy on June 1, the Penang government has given the public a one-year grace period before carrying out enforcement action.

Under the policy, residents of landed property have to place recyclables such as paper, plastic and aluminium tins beside the rubbish bin for collection on Saturday.

For high-rise communities, apartment management committees must create a space for residents to drop off materials and arrange the pickup.

Visit www.mbpp.gov.my for more details.

[slider id='81590' name='StarProperty' size='full']

*Contact us at editor@starproperty.my.

**Subscribe to StarProperty on Facebook or WeChat for the latest updates.

***For more interesting articles in Chinese, download 《潮楼产业》PropertyTrends. Now available at Google Play and iTunes.