Recycling: some grievences

I have a discussion on recycling initiative with a group of Japanese researchers yesterday. While they observed that a lot of activities have been carried out to raise public awareness on 3R and to get them to implement some of the programmes, the response was not automatically forthcoming. I have to admit that getting people on board to start something is difficult, getting them to sustain the initiative is equally hard. Many of the community organisations do not consider 3R is on top of the list in their neighbourhood concern. Many thought safety and security is much more important, and even those with less worries about safety have not shown much interest on 3R.

Another interesting point brought up was the gathering of data on rubbish collection and recycling rate. While figure showed PJ area generated about 145 thousand tonnes of waste annually, the figure does not take into consideration illegal waste dumped elsewhere or recyclable items that collected by recycling vendors or organisations. We simply do not have a figure showing exact waste generation, and even the recycling rate. Having said this, all agreed that recycling rate is much more higher as many confessed that we keep newspapers, bottles, aluminium cans and even car battery for collection by door step vendors.

We have also noticed that charitable organisations have done well in collection of recyclable compared to other stakeholders. We reckoned that this might be due to effective marketing of the organisations. Many recycling boxes bearing the contact number are placed in strategic location. Apart from that, these organisations provide home collection service for bulky waste. I think the convenience, perhaps made the difference.

During the discussion with Petaling Jaya Community Centre officers, we were informed that there are people who is willing to make extra efforts to bring over the recyclable items and without asking monetary reward. However, there are people who brought in the "waste" without doing segregation. Sometime, unwanted personal care items were found. While, this indicates 3R concept is prolonging into some people's way of life, the other example also shows that much need to be done in educating people.

In discussing effectiveness of 3R and factors contributing to the weaknesses, many success stories elsewhere showed that Human Factor is the most critical one. The attitude of people without carrot or stick is the winning formula. Of course, with stick mentality will change faster. The No Plastic Bag Campaign in Penang and Selangor for example is welcome by every people with right mind set, although few .

Go Green

This photo was taken at a function celebrating a festive season. While plenty of food was served, the serving with Styrofoam containers is something that many would not like to see, especially now everyone is talking about Go Green.

Seminar: Application of Carbonisation Technology for Industrial Scheduled Waste Management

As part of the capacity building program of Local Agenda 21 Petaling Jaya initiative, a seminar entitled "Application of Cabornisation Technology for Effective Industrial Scheduled Waste Management will be held on 19th January 2010 (Tuesday), 2.00pm to 4.30pm at MBPJ. The Seminar is jointly-organised by MBPJ and FMM Selangor Branch to raise stakeholders' awareness on scheduled waste as well as appropriate technology for treatment. Carbonisation is a proven cost efficient and environmental friendly option for treating waste at source. Waste generators such as industries, food outlets operators and businesses can collectively help to preserve a healthy and sustainable PJ, if many of them start reducing their waste at source.

Interested? Please down load the form and register yourself.

Wish for 2010 (3)

During my round of cleaning up the office recently, I found an interesting story about The Future and Sustainable Development. I thought it is good to share at the start of New Year 2010.

An old man and a child play a game of riddles. The child approaches the old man carrying something in his hands.

“What is it?” he asks the old man.

The old man can see a feather sticking out between the child’s fingers. “It must be a bird”, he says. “Yes”, the child answer, “But is it dead or alive?”. The old man can see the bird moving. So he says, “It is alive”, and the child quickly strangles the bird, and says “No, you are wrong.”

The next time, the old man sees the child, he is again carrying something in his hands. “What do you think it is?” asks the child. Once again, there are feathers sticking out. The old man does not want the child to kill the bird, so he quickly says “It is a dead bird”. and the child, letting do of the bird, says, “No, you’re wrong.”

This happens a third time. The child is carrying a bird cupped in his hands, and asks the old man, what he thinks it is. But this time he answers “I cannot tell you, my child. For the future is in your hands”.

Similarly, sustainability is our own creation. We will decide for ourselves as well as receiving the impacts of our own doing. The future of human beings, and not the Earth as many claimed is definitely a journey we ourselves treasured. Therefore, we should not blame others for not doing enough if we ourselves have not done enough.

Well, why should we complain about others of not supporting the No Plastic Bag Campaign if we ourselves are still using plastic bag unwisely. Why should we asking people to take public transport if we ourselves are still riding the car. Why should we ask people to do composting to reduce rubbish if we ourselves still throwing rubbish extensively?

The list can go on… and endless.

Wish for 2010 (2)

My service club, Lions Club of Kuala Lumpur (West) in collaboration with the Leo Clubs organised a Christmas Tea Party for the orphanages in Pandan Indah last weekend. This is part of the Loving Sunday Project to foster closer fellowship amongst members and at the same time to serve the under privileged communities. I wish to see more such caring activities for year 2010.

Wish for 2010

This photo was taken during my lunch time in front of a restaurant in PJ one day. The driver decided that it is OK for parking his car in that position even though it caused inconvenience to others. This is typical scene in most of the busy streets in the business centres. This must not become a common thing for 2010, I presume.

Happy New Year 2010

It is 10 years now onto the 21st Century. Last twelve months witnessed many happenings in MBPJ. Politically, The Council is under the rule of parties different from the Federal Government. Administratively, we have many young and energetic Councillors on board. Economically, the city is still up beat albeit global economic downturn. Socially, people are more vocal and proactive in engaging the Council over planning and development issues. Environmentally, the quality of rivers improved and forest of Kota Damansara is conserved. If measurement on sustainable development in PJ can be done in piece meal and compartmental basis, then I think the sustainability is achieved partly.


However, proponents of Local Agenda 21 know this is not the case. Sustainable development has to be measured in total and integrated with each dimension. We have for the past decade, promoting and advocating total sustainability, but the results have not been encouraging. People tend to focusing on a particular dimension of development and with other dimension as the ancillary effect. For example, property developers will argue that urban regeneration is good for revitalising the physical dilapidated condition and generating jobs and work space in which economic growth is on top of the priority. Similarly, Local authorities organising various community development programmes for harnessing good neighbourliness and citizenry. On the other hand, in the process of asking for more greenery communities reject all kind of development and changes that affect their life albeit small or big scale projects. While we agree that everyone has a right to safeguard their interest, we must also mindful that finding an amicable solution to cater for every one need is important. That's the challenge for sustainability.


For a sustainable Petaling Jaya, my wishes for 2010 is: -

1. Greater partnership, engagement and participation amongst various stakeholders. The relationship between partners are getting better in year 2009 especially when it comes to mutual interest but can be improved better. There is sign of vulnerable when it can to issues that affected own interest. For example, saga of Jalan Tanjung closure saw the disagreement between Bandar Utama and Tropicana in which both are actually the strong supporters advocating the conservation of Kota Damansara Community Forest Park. Towards that, greater empowerment and delegation of rights and responsibilities to the community-based organisations should be expedited. Residents groups should be entrusted to take charge of the management and maintenance of their neighbourhoods.


2. Strategic actions are important guide for long term commitment and direction. Without them, it is hard to see continuity in development but rather many are on piece meal basis. This will affect quality of services and works as well as wastage of fund. For example, the resurfacing of road need coordination between utilities agencies or else people will experience the digging of road everyday by different agencies. Towards that, vision and leadership are critical factors. Until we are sure the direction and envision the outcome for PJ, we are not able to chart out a clear strategic actions.


3. Holistic programmes that encompass social, economic and environmental dimensions is necessary. Throughout 2009 and in fact in the past, many programmes are done in pieces and with very little or without consideration of sustainable development. We have very clear cut of community social programme, sport activities, youth activities and etc. Very few are claiming as sustainable development initiatives. We have to strengthen these aspects or else the dream of developing PJ as a dynamic and healthy city for all remains an Utopian.


4. Higher integrity and competency of staffs is pre-requisite. Until then, it is a race between cat and mouse, day in and day out doing the same thing. For example, forgetting about disabled friendly features in the upgrading work of infrastructure is totally unacceptable because we have talking about this for so long. Ignorance or have not reminded for doing so should not occur again in 2010. Towards this end. integrity and competency of staff as well as the general public is important. Capacity building and publicity programmes should be held constantly and targeted to all stakeholders.

Local Agenda 21 Petaling Jaya is celebrating 10 years anniversary of its commencement. Since the initiation of LA 21 PJ in year 2000, many community initiatives with greater stakeholders' participation have been carried out. This year, it is time for reviewing the past and reshaping next steps. I hope to have all partners coming forward for this. Many of the planned programmes will be targeting on celebrating the achievement of past decade.

Happy New Year 2010.