Separate Your Waste Disposal for Better Environment: A Guide

SHAH ALAM – The dirt neighborhood make our life unhealthy since we need a clean environment to make our life lively and healthier. The low awareness to separate waste disposal in the society leads to dirty and morbid environment at the residency Seksyen 7, Shah Alam.

            The rubbish bin that were provided at the residency is too small thus the large amount of garbage for each household throw-outs, so people leave the garbage out of the bin. The trash that being left outside the bins attracted stray animals like dogs and cats rummage trash then cluttering it because they think there are food in the plastic that people throw away.

            Although this issues may seem small, but if you let it drag on, not only our surroundings be contaminated with the smell but we will also be exposed to the disease. No one on this earth like dirt, but everyone loves things that nice and clean.

            Throwing garbage is easy because garbage is our unwanted things but what makes it difficult is to separate the garbage. Society need to learn the correct way to separate their garbage properly.

            According to a 2012 government survey, an average each Malaysian produces 0.8kg of waste every day, means that whole nation dumps a mind boggling 22,000 tonnes of trash per day. Our country will full with tonnes of trash during 2020 if we did not take any action to cope this issues.

Actually, solid waste separation and 3R practice which are Reduce, Reuse and Recycle are known as one of the most effective way to reduce the amount of solid waste production and transmission to the landfill.

            For instance, the state of Selangor spent RM300,000 a year to manage garbage and solid waste which the managing and processing all the solid waste are expensive.

            Government should plays their role to take an action which make it’s compulsory to separate waste disposal before we runs of space to store the garbage.

            Our government should takes Japan and South Korea as our role model in terms of waste disposal because their country among the best country that recycle and separate the waste disposal in a best way. In Malaysia, we also have recycle bin but it’s not widely used thus our society were not exposed to the correct way to recycle their garbage.

            As we know, Japan is known for its detailed waste separation which come out with 10 categories in some of the cities.

            When it’s comes to waste separation, they will separate it in designated bags which have different color for different garbage which they can buy it in grocery and convenience stores.

            Furthermore, recycling is compulsory and recycled items can be disposed in any clear plastic bag in South Korea. The separation of garbage according to common categories which is food waste, solid garbage, recyclable and bulk waste.

            Actually the way of the recycling and waste separation from the two of the country that I mention have a common with our recycling system, but our system still have a weakness.

            The waste disposal at residency in Seksyen 7, Shah Alam was one of the proof that our citizen lack of education in recycling their garbage, since if we look at the garbage they throw, they did not separate it and just throw it.

The community still have this mindset that cleaning or managing waste is the authorities’ responsibility only, but we should realize that, we as the biggest contributor producing waste, so we should also play a role in making the change.

           This kind of attitude which don’t even care about nature and surrounding makes our life sick. When we do not have a clean environment, we will exposed to the disease that will harm our health.

            The state of Selangor can use the methods that have been use by the country that I mention earlier, to sell the different color of plastic bag to separate their garbage. Then, place the recycle bin to every block so they will feel easier to throw their garbage.

            The campaigns about recycle waste disposal into a correct system not widely introduced to society. Our government should do something to make society aware about this campaigns then they can have a knowledge to participate in recycling their own garbage. 

            Other than that, the implementing of law to separate their waste disposal and if breaks the rules, the fines will be given and this will make people aware and will make people separate their garbage.

Furthermore, according to the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleanliness Corporation (SWCorp), you’ll need to separate your waste in 4 categories which are paper, plastic, miscellaneous and non-recyclables. 

 For the first category which is Paper, things that can be recycle like discarded receipts, cardboard, paper, newspapers, magazines, drink cartons and anything made of paper that’s dry/uncontaminated.

For the second category which is plastic, things that can be recycle like bottles, plastic bags, and anything else made of plastic (this can include plastic toys and plastic and polystyrene food containers – rinsed first).

For the third category which is miscellaneous must pack and separate according to these 7 groups. Firstly, glass or ceramic wares such as bottles, pots and so on. Secondly, aluminium or metal such as cans, steel utensils and so on. Thirdly, electronics such as batteries, calculators, phones, wires, cables, lightbulbs and small electrical items. Fourthly, Fabric, shoes, rubber or leather such as t-shirts, handbags, sneakers, rubber gloves and so on. Fifth, hazardous waste such as aerosol cans, insect poison/repellent, and paint cans. Sixth, bulk items such as furniture, bed frame and large electrical items. Lastly, garden waste such as leaves, flowers and so on.

For the fourth category which is non-recyclables means residual waste such as food items and soiled/wet materials like used diapers and tissues. Only these will be sent to landfills.

On collection day, items in categories one to three must be placed in a plastic bag or container unless it's a large/bulky item, outside the rubbish bin, whereas residual waste must be packed in a plastic bag, tied and placed inside the rubbish bin.

Usually, items in categories one to three will be collected twice a week and the fourth category will be collected once a week.

The time of collected depends on the place. In Seksyen 7 Shah Alam, the collected time was everyday because there are resident there.

So, recycling and separate your waste disposal correctly for better environment and better future. What’s are you waiting for? Let’s do it together.