TO enhance the collection and recycling of post-consumer waste, Nestle Malaysia has partnered with Penang Island City Council (MBPP) to expand its waste collection programme on the island.
Nestle Malaysia chief executive officer Juan Aranols announced that this collaboration will extend the company’s Door-to-Door Collection and Recycling Project to more than 13,000 households across 39 condominium units and two landed residential areas in 2025.
This initiative, which forms part of the company’s larger Project SAVE, represents the largest Extended Production Responsibility (EPR) effort in Malaysia. It aims to raise awareness and encourage active participation in sustainable waste management practices among residents to foster a cleaner environment for all.
MBPP mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said the collaboration between MBPP and Nestle Malaysia is a testament to what can be achieved when stakeholders come together with a shared commitment to protecting the environment.
“Through recycling solutions tailored to our communities, we are building a greener Penang for future generations,” he said.
Since its launch in 2020, Project SAVE has grown steadily to become the largest voluntary EPR initiative in Malaysia, partnering with local municipal councils in Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Shah Alam, Klang and concessionaire Alam Flora Environmental Solutions Sdn Bhd (AFES).
Recognised by UNEP and Malaysia’s Ministry of Environment and Water (KASA), Project SAVE has diverted 31,000 tonnes of packaging waste, including 21,000 tonnes of plastic, from landfills and oceans. Reaching 200,000 households across six cities, it serves as a leading example of increasing recycling participation.
Through Project SAVE and other plastic-neutral initiatives, Nestle strives to reduce virgin plastic use and foster a cleaner, waste-free Malaysia while continuing to deliver halal, nutritious, and high-quality Malaysian-made products.
“This programme with Nestle Malaysia began in early January 2024, with several initial locations identified.
“For landed housing areas, it started in Island Glades, Island Park, and Avara in Seri Tanjung Pinang, while for high-rise housing, it began in Quayside Condominium and Tamarind Condominium.
“Subsequently, the number of areas involved was expanded, with landed housing areas extended to include Ariza Courtyard and Ariza Seafront in Seri Tanjung Pinang, covering a total of 4,201 residential units.
“For high-rise housing, the programme was expanded to encompass a total of 4,854 residential units,” said Rajendran during the MoU signing that occurred at the City Hall of George Town today.
Also present were Raja Nurmania Murni, the executive director and Group corporate affairs of Nestle Malaysia; state environmental health officer Mohd Zamzuri Hussain; Management Services director Azman Sirun, state legal adviser Shamiah Bilal and director of Lasaju Consulting, Tobias Mangelmann. They were accompanied by MBPP officers, representatives of Nestle Malaysia and representatives of Lasaju Consulting.
The partnership also prioritises community engagement through Communication, Education, and Public Awareness (CEPA) campaigns in addition to offering operational support.
“Penang currently has only one remaining landfill, located at the Phase 3 landfill site in Pulau Burung, south Seberang Perai, which has been operational since December 2020.
“Initially, this 315-acre landfill was expected to last up to 36 years. However, due to the increasing amount of waste generated annually, its lifespan has been significantly shortened.
“Therefore, strong efforts to reduce the amount of waste sent directly to the landfill are crucial to extending its operational lifespan,” added Rajendran.
Story by Lim Min Jun
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar