Condo Recycling in Malaysia Learn how to set up a workable recycling system in your condominium. It is easier than you think, as the cleaners that manage the trash probably already have an informal recycling system in place because they can earn extra pocket money from selling the recyclables to private recycling companies. The system is cheap to set up – in our case less than RM 8 per apartment. For the system to work well remember to: o Make it easy for people recycle – so set up the bins in the existing trash room on each floor o Use clear labeling of the bins o Give the cleaners a monetary incentive, so let them keep the money earned from selling the recyclables Feel free to download and use the material from this page to implement your own condo recycling system in collaboration with your condominium management and the cleaners. Kind regards, Gregers Eco Warriors, Malaysia gregers @ ien.com.my hp +60122755630 _________
Contents 0. Press Release for Condo Recycling & Survey results. 3 1. Eco Warrior condo recycling Facebook page. 6 2. Cost break-down of implementing recycling system.. 6 3. Selling price of recyclables. 7 4. Decomposition time for waste in Nature. 8 5. Bio-degradable plastic bags for trash bins. 9 6. FAQ sheet about recycling. 10 7. Recycling of Batteries (household). 11 8. Recycling of Fluorescent Tubes and CFL. 13 9. Composting. 15 10. Enzymes for composting of organic waste & cleaning. 15	Downloads o Condo recycling presentation (pdf) o Condo recycling poster (pdf) o Condo recycling survey (results, form) o Material for implementing system: - circular to residents (pdf, Word) - recycling labels (pdf, ppt) - poster for trash room door (pdf, ppt) o Private recycling company contacts (pdf)
0. Press Release for Condo Recycling & Survey results Venue & Date: Seri Raja Chulan Condo, 12, Jalan Changkat Raja Chulan. Wednesday 21^st October 2009 at 10 am (ground floor) Eco Warriors Malaysia members, Gregers Reimann and Matthias Gelber, have successfully implemented a condo recycling system in the Seri Raja Chulan Condo (91 units) where they live. This was done in collaboration with the condo management and the cleaners in what can be termed as a win-win-win situation: · The residents are happy to recycle as it has been made easy for them · The condo management is happy, as the condo is now more attractive for tenants · The cleaners are happy because they earn extra pocket money from selling the recyclables Moreover, the cost of implementing the system was very low, namely only RM 7.40 per apartment unit. The main purpose of the official “Condo Recycling Launch” on Wednesday 21^st October at 10 am is to tell the public how they can implement similar system at their condo. For example, the condo management, Henry Butcher Malaysia, is already starting to copy the system for the other condominiums that they manage. Items that can be recycled are bottles & cans (plastic, metal, glass), beverage cartons, paper (newspaper, magazines, books, black and white paper), cardboard, DVDs/CDs and batteries; the recycling company used by Seri Raja Chulan condo is run by Mr. Low Lian Ting (hp 0123418233, tel 03-8942 1298). About 100-200 kg of material is recycled every month from the 91 apartment units. For people, who do not live in condominiums, try to contact Alam Flora, as they do recycling in less densely populated areas as part of their social corporate responsibility, which includes printing brochures and flyers about recycling for residents. Learn more about the condo recycling initiative via the Facebook group, Eco Warriors Malaysia, or at the homepage www.ien.dk/recycling. Or simply follow these simple steps: 1. Discuss with the cleaners and the building management how best to implement a workable condo recycling system 2. Make it easy for the residents to recycle, so try to place recycling bins inside existing trash room. 3. Give the cleaners a monetary incentive to do the recycling, so let them keep the money from selling the recyclables 4. Label the recycling bins clearly and instruct cleaners to place back the bins so the labels are visible 5. All bins should have lids, to prevent people from just throwing any trash into bins with no lid 6. Inform the residents and maids about the recycling system in writing and by placing recycling system diagram in trash room 7. Keep up awareness about the recycling program among the residents and maids, e.g. posting of recycling reports _________
(download poster in high resolution) (download results in high resolution) (download results separated between Malaysian and non-Malaysian replies) _________
0. Eco Warrior condo recycling Facebook page This is the Facebook page by Eco Warriors Malaysia from where the condo recycling scheme was launched 1st June 2009: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=159217417562&index=1 _________
1. Cost break-down of implementing recycling system The Seri Raja Chulan Condo has one garbage room for each of the 23 floors. A typical floor has 4 apartments. The condo has a total of 91 apartment units: RM 230 (23 recycling bins for glass, plastic and metal bottles/cans) RM 6 (23 small recycling containers for batteries and CDs) RM 164 (23 wooden shelves for paper and cardboards) RM 110 (46 metal brackets for mounting of the wooden shelves; paper&cardboards) RM 50 (Printing of recycling labels) RM 115 (Lamination of recycling labels) RM 675 (Total cost) RM 7.40 (Cost per apartment unit) _________
2. Selling price of recyclables Source: Alam Flora (www.alamflora.com.my) and Recycle and Reward (www.recycleandreward.my) NB. Private recycling companies will often pay higher rates _________
3. Decomposition time for waste in Nature (graphics from The Star) _________
4. Bio-degradable plastic bags for trash bins Bio-degradable plastic bags are available in many of the local supermarkets. Please use them yourselves and encourage your condominium management to use them for the bins in the trash room. _________
5. FAQ sheet about recycling Source: Alam Flora _________
6. Recycling of Batteries (household) In Malaysia, I only know of one company, that recycles household batteries and pay RM 0.56 per kg. This company is Recycle and Reward (www.recycleandreward.my). Most other recycling companies are only willing to accept car batteries and some (genuine) hand phone batteries. Alternatively, one can store the batteries until a proper recycling system is set up in Malaysia, in which case the best thing to do is to contact Dr. Abdul Rahman, the Director for DOE Hazardous Waste Division, to request a special bin for storage of household batteries, and of course request them to collect it once it is full. Some companies and government offices are using such special bin now; see image below _________
7. Recycling of Fluorescent Tubes and CFL In Malaysia, there is no recycling for fluorescent tubes and CFL (compact fluorescent lightbulbs). The best to do is to request for a special bin for storage of fluorescent tubes and CFL from Dr. Abdul Rahman, the Director for DOE Hazardous Waste Division, and of course request them to collect it once it is full. Some companies and government offices are using such special bin now; see image below _________
8. Composting An idea for condo composting is using the in-vessel type of organic waste composting machine. The organic food waste quantity from a 100 unit condo should not exceed the capacity of this composting machine. This way, the residents can get free compost for their planting need, for example if they have some flowers or plants at home. The condo management can also use the compost for the condo landscaping. The In-vessel composting machine is able to turn the waste into compost within 24-48 hours, but it requires some operating costs since it uses electricity and some enzyme.
9. Enzymes for composting of organic waste & cleaning Organic food waste from kitchens can be composted in a jar with the use of enzymes, sugar and water. The enzyme liquid can be used as a cleaning agent in the household for washing of floors, toilets – and event for washing of laundry. See more information in attached presentation and/or contact Tan Hwee Yinn, hp +60122138573, yinn @ ien.com.my for more information.
Uploaded by: Gregers Reimann, www.ien.com.my
18 August 2010