Muhamad Yakup (sixth right) and other guests officiate the unveiling of the SisaSMART@Bintulu (BDA-PPWS) facility. – Photo by BDA
BINTULU (June 17): The Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) plans to expand its sustainable waste management initiatives by setting up another community waste management centre at the Medan Jaya Commercial Centre in the near future.
BDA general manager Datu Muhamad Yakup Kari said the expansion aims to provide more residents with access to a systematic and community-friendly food waste management facility.
“The success of establishing the SisaSMART@Bintulu (BDA-PPWS) facility serves as a catalyst for BDA’s efforts to expand similar programmes to other areas,” he said at the launch of the facility at Persekutuan Perkumpulan Wanita Sarawak (PPWS) Bintulu here on Tuesday.
Muhamad Yakup noted that solid waste and food waste have become increasingly significant challenges in Bintulu.
He said a substantial volume of food waste, kitchen waste, organic materials and recyclables is generated daily from households, communities, business premises, schools, and offices.
“Without effective management, a large portion of this waste will end up in landfills, subsequently increasing the pressure on the environment and urban management costs,” he warned.
Muhamad Yakup explained that the SisaSMART@Bintulu initiative was established under the ‘Towards Zero Food Waste in Bintulu’ programme to reduce food waste, increase waste segregation at source, and foster a culture of responsible waste management.
Muhamad Yakup said the facility is not merely a waste processing centre but also serves as a community education hub, technology demonstration space, training platform and knowledge-sharing centre for waste reduction, composting, recycling and resource recovery practices.
“Through this facility, the community has the opportunity to see first-hand how waste can be managed more systematically and sustainably.
“Hands-on experiences like this are far more effective in shaping behavioural changes and practices compared to awareness campaigns alone,” he added.
Muhamad Yakup stressed that as a rapidly developing industrial town, Bintulu must continue to strike a balance between economic development, environmental preservation and community well-being.
“Efficient and responsible waste management is a vital aspect in creating a clean, healthy, and sustainable town for future generations,” he said.
The project, supported by digital technology through the ‘KitarNow’ application to facilitate recycling activities, is a collaborative effort with Universiti Putra Malaysia Sarawak (UPMS) and PPWS.
Muhamad Yakup commended PPWS for spearheading the facility’s operations, and emphasised that the role of women and the community is essential in cultivating sustainability from the household level up.
He also thanked UPMS for providing the technical expertise and research translation that directly benefits the public.
Muhamad Yakup expressed hope that schools, higher learning institutions, government agencies, private sector organisations and wider community would actively utilise the facility as a reference and learning centre for sustainable waste management.
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