SOME 700 experienced and seasoned hikers are expected to participate in the Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) plogging programme, known as the Trash Free Hill 2022 (TFH2022).
THE one-day event will be held on Nov 13 from 6.30am to 12 noon at various corners of Penang Hill.
PHC general manager Datuk Cheok Lay Leng said the Trash Free Hill has become a popular plogging event that has attracted many experienced hikers since it started in 2018.
“The main objective is to help protect and preserve Penang Hill and its water catchment areas, and to increase public awareness of keeping Penang Hill clean and rubbish-free.
“It is my great pleasure and honour to announce that Trash Free Hill is back again for the third time after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“And we are targeting to recruit about 700 hiking enthusiasts to clean up trash along the popular Penang Hill trails and its surroundings.
“This event is not only for hikers but everyone is welcome to join. We hope more participants will join us for this cleanup drive this year,” Cheok told a press conference at the Penang Hill lower station today.
Also present was state Welfare and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh.
Phee said the state government, through PHC, hopes to emphasise the importance of biodiversity and the co-existence of humans with nature through this plogging event.
“Back in 2019, with the help of 700 over participants, we collected more than 480kg of trash on the hill.
“And today, we are excited to relaunch this significant and successful initiative to jog everyone’s memory of the importance of keeping the hill clean from rubbish.
“And with more and more people visiting Penang Hill each year, we hope this plogging event will be able to educate and generate public awareness to be more environmentally conscious and dispose of their rubbish responsibly.
“After all, preserving and conserving our beautiful Penang Hill requires collective efforts and actions from everyone, not only the environmentalists or relevant bodies,” he said.
According to Cheok, TFH2022 first flag-off will be at Taman Rimba in Teluk Bahang at 6.30am.
“It is one of the longest trails among the eight trails around Penang Hill, which is recommended for experienced hikers.
“The starting points for the remaining seven trails will be at Moongate Entrance, Botanic Gardens, Lower Station / Heritage Trail, Hye Keat Estate and Jalan Air Itam beginning at 7am.
“The end point for all trails will be at Dataran, near the Penang Hill Upper Station by noon.
“Registration is via online on Penang Hill Corporation’s website at https://penanghill.gov.my/index.php/en/ from now until Sept 30, and it is open to all individuals and families who are deemed fit to join.
“And we highly welcome experienced and seasoned hikers. Besides, we would also encourage corporate teams to join the plogging event as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities,” said Cheok.
Cheok added that PHC will also provide registered participants with gloves, garbage bags, gunny sacks and arrange for the collection of the filled bags.
“The trash retrieved by the hikers will be collected and weighed by Universiti Sains Malaysia personnel and the data will then be analysed to determine how much total waste is found,” he said.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud