THE Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has installed a new recycling station at Dewan MPKK Paya Terubong, further strengthening efforts to promote waste segregation among the public.
This marks the third recycling station established under the Paya Terubong state constituency, providing residents with greater accessibility to proper waste disposal facilities.
The newly installed station is divided into four sections to accommodate different types of recyclable materials: plastic, electronic waste, paper, and metal.
Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai, who also serves as the Paya Terubong assemblyman, officiated the launch of the new facility today.
Also present at the event were MBPP mayor Datuk A. Rajendran, MBPP secretary Cheong Chee Hong, and MBPP councillor Tan Soo Siang.
According to Tan, the project is a joint initiative between MBPP and YB Wong’s office, with a total cost of approximately RM9,000.
“The recycling station will be open every Saturday, from 3pm to 5pm.
“Recycling is simple in theory, but challenging in practice. Through this initiative, we hope to encourage residents to adopt waste segregation at the source and cultivate recycling habits in their daily lives.
“We also plan to install an additional recycling station this year, bringing the total to four stations within the Paya Terubong constituency—the largest state constituency in Penang,” she added.
Meanwhile, Wong emphasised that the primary goal of this initiative is to educate the public on the importance of proper waste disposal.
“We have observed that various types of waste are frequently discarded in regular trash bins or even along roadsides.
“With this recycling station, we hope to provide clear guidance to the public on how to dispose of their unwanted materials correctly,” Wong said in his speech.
He further noted that active public participation in waste segregation and recycling could significantly reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills, ultimately helping MBPP lower waste management costs.
“The funds that were previously allocated for waste management can then be redirected toward infrastructure development, public facility upgrades, and social welfare initiatives, ensuring a more efficient use of public resources for the long-term progress of Penang,” he added.
In addition, Wong announced that the new recycling station at Dewan MPKK Paya Terubong has partnered with Riicycle, a company that not only provides efficient recyclable material collection services but also introduces a smart rewards system.
“Residents of Paya Terubong can use the Riicycle mobile application to submit their recyclables at this centre.
“For every item recycled, users will earn reward points, which can be redeemed for various incentives.
“This approach makes environmental conservation more engaging and rewarding,” he said.
The Riicycle app is accessible through MBPP’s official mobile application, Pearl-One Touch Penang.
“With this initiative, we hope to increase public awareness of the importance of recycling and encourage more residents to actively participate.
“Together, we can build a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable community,” Wong concluded.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Siew Chia En