A ZERO-WASTE initiative has been launched to collect recyclables and food waste from up to 200 households in Taman Tun Dr Ismail in Kuala Lumpur.

The project, undertaken by the TTDI residents’ association, will use an app that provides e-hailing services for the disposal of recyclable items.

“The system is similar to Uber, whereby someone will come and pick up your ‘dry’ rubbish or recyclable items,” said Tan Ching Seong, the man behind the zero-waste initiative called Phinonic.

The app was created to reward users through simple incentives based on volume recycled by the user, and on the volume of waste separated into recyclables and food waste, said Tan.

“No one can achieve absolute zero wastage, therefore, zero waste actually equates to an actual amount of 1.7kg of waste per person monthly,” he told The Malaysian Insight after the launch of the initiative this morning.

TTDI residents’ association organiser Koo Zhao Phin, meanwhile, said food waste, once centralised, could be turned into fertiliser.

“During our trial phases in Petaling Jaya, wet food items were taken to the Edible Garden in TTDI, where they turned hundreds of kilos of food waste into compost,” said Koo.

The long-term vision is to generate bio-gas and compost for large-scale farming as a way to keep massive piles of rubbish from filling up land fills, he added.

Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh, who launched the initiative this morning, said it was a great platform to showcase waste management.

“On getting the government’s support, I will talk to Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the mayor to see how they can support it, but it has to be well managed, especially once it expands,” said the deputy women, family and community development minister.

She added that City Hall had previously spent RM425 million to manage waste collection and clean up the city, while 60% of Subang Jaya’s assessments were used for waste collection during her term as a state rep there.

“This did not include illegal dumping, or residents dumping unwanted furniture on the side of the road,” she said.

“If we want to start putting money where it is needed (instead of landfills), it should go to the education (of waste management).

“Recycling takes a lot of hard work in kitchens at home, but I’m glad this platform exists, and can later be tested with residents in Desa Park City and Mont Kiara,” Yeoh said. – November 3, 2018.