(Back row, from left) Quah, Casa Impian building supervisor Ho Siang Peng and Wong observing the apartment’s management corporation staff as they separate wastes collected from the residents.

RESIDENTS of Casa Impian, a high-rise apartment at Jalan Ooi Thiam Siew in Jelutong, Penang, have been recycling their household wastes since five years ago.

Its building supervisor Ho Siang Peng said the residents initiated the campaign then to ensure cleanliness of the apartment area and to take care of the environment.

The apartment’s management corporation (MC) chairman Thomas Quah said the MC staff go from door to door every Monday tocollect the recyclable items, which the residents segregate at their respective homes.

“The involvement of the residents here is encouraging, and every two months, we manage to collect recyclable items, which are sold for about RM150 to RM200,” he said when met at the apartment during the waste segregation at source exercise on Monday.

Quah added that there are about 1,000 residents staying at the single- block 17-storey apartment.

Ho also said the residents are giving their full support towards the waste segregation at source policy.

Penang Island city councillor Wong Yuee Harng, who is also the the council’s Public Education Committee alternate chairman, commended Casa Impian’s management for its initiative.

“Although Casa Impian is a self-managed apartment, they are able to run the policy successfully.

“I don’t see why other high-rise and strata-titled buildings with property management companies, are unable do likewise.

“They can take Casa Impian as an example, as they have proven that waste segregation at source can be done even at high-rise buildings,” he said.

From June 1, all types of household wastes are required to beseparated in an effort to promote a healthier and cleaner environment in the state.