Municipal council to recycle organic wastes into composts

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SIBU: Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) is taking the lead in composting by utilising a new technology to recycle organic waste into fertilizers and reduce waste disposed into its landfill.

SMC deputy chairman Dato Andrew Wong disclosed that the pilot project costing almost RM300,000 at Sibu Central Market is expected to become operational next year.

“We will be acquiring a waste composting machine next year to be placed at the central market but the exact location will be determined later.

“The machine powered by local technology is capable of handling some 260 kilogrammes of waste daily. It will be able to produce about 20 to 30 kg of composts which can be used as fertilizers.

“The machine will compost any waste from fruit skins, rotten vegetables to seasonal fruits such as durian husk besides normal plastic bags at the central market.

“We are seeking the funds for the project from both federal and state governments. The project costing nearly RM300,000 comprises both renovation works and the acquisition of the machine,” Wong told The Borneo Post.

He noted that a similar technology was being used by Shah Alam City Council, which has two of such machine placed at the market there.

“I am not too sure other councils (in the state) will be implementing a similar technology or not.

“As far as we know, we will be the first in Sarawak to implement this,” Wong said.

He mentioned that the training to operate the machine is included with the purchase, adding that it is user-friendly. The deputy chairman expressed optimism that the volume of waste from the market going into the landfill would be significantly reduced once the composting project is operational.

“The volume of waste from the central market going into the landfill will be reduced as some are recycled into compost materials,” Wong explained.

He reckoned the green initiative would help prolong the lifespan of the landfill.

According to a survey done in 2010, the composition of waste among major towns in Sarawak was 35 per cent food waste, 19 per cent paper, 11 per cent soft plastics, five per cent hard plastics, five per cent garden waste, five per cent nappies, three per cent glass, two per cent wood and the rest are metal and construction materials.

On scavenging service at the market, he said this would proceed as usual because there were wastes that still needed to be thrown away.

“Bottles and glass for instance, cannot be composted,” he explained.

Meanwhile, ‘tamu’ traders are plying their trade at the open space of the central market following renovation works for the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC).

Canopies have been erected to house these traders.

There are over 120 traders at the open space including seasonal fruits and daily vendors besides the ‘tamu’ traders.