Food waste main cause of environmental pollution

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Hii (fourth left) presents a prize and certificate to the champion of the Earth Day’s Eco Design Competition – SMK Chung Hua, while (from second left) acting municipal secretary Jong Thian Puk, Earth Day 2017 organising chairman Albert Tiang and others look on.

SIBU: A staggering 15,000 tonnes of food waste are discarded daily in the country which is contributing to environmental pollution.

Mentari Alam Eko (M) Sdn Bhd executive director Mae Ooi said to cut down pollution there is a need to recycle food waste.

Based on Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government’s statistics – organic waste formed 49 per cent of the total waste, while others were paper and carbon box (15 per cent); plastic (14 per cent); glass (three per cent); metal and wood – four per cent each; textile (three per cent), rubber (one per cent) and others (seven per cent).

“Lots of people still don’t know how to handle the food waste. By the year 2020, there will be enough food waste to fill up 16 KLCC buildings if nothing is done to handle food waste,” she said during a presentation at Love Earth Day 2017 here on Saturday.

Mae also shared about her company’s technology in converting 100 per cent of food waste into organic fertiliser.

Sibu Resident Hii Chang Kee who also spoke disclosed that organic waste formed 49.5 per cent of the total domestic waste entering Kemuyang Sanitary Landfill.

Hii said that a study carried out on the composition in domestic waste discovered that organic waste made up 49.5 per cent of it followed by plastic (14.5 per cent), paper (10.51 per cent) and others.

Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King advocated 5Rs to green up the environment.

He stressed that it was vital that everyone practises the 5R’s – reduce, reuse, recycle, refuse and reform to conserve the environment.

Meanwhile, Eleora Sutai Abell from SK Perbandaran No. 4 was adjudged champion of the public speaking competition held in conjunction with the Love Earth Day 2017.

The first runner-up was Sarafina Shrutika Arunegeri – also from SK Perbandaran No. 4.

Wesley Wong Shu Hong of SJK Dung Sang was third.

In Eco-Bubu & Robotic Design Competition, SMK Chung Hua emerged champion with SMK Durin and Public People Group finishing second and third respectively.