Webinar highlights sustainable recycling system to reduce waste

At the “Sustainable Recycling System For Eco-shopping: Community Awareness and Action” webinar, organised by the Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology on 20 October 2021 via Zoom, Au Yong shared his experience and effective practices to cultivate responsibility among the community in handling packaging waste created from online shopping, as well as to introduce sustainable recycling system to the public as an effective solution to manage packaging waste.

The webinar emphasised that the most sustainable choice is to recycle the used plastics because recycling can sustain the plastic resource and minimise negative environmental impacts through systematic and integrated management.

“Landfills are continuously preferred over recycling because some wastes are expensive to be recycled. It is also due to the limited available technology to process the recycling, especially chemical wastes. When it comes to recycling plastics, there are seven categories of plastics, created from various combinations of dyes and additives to produce the desired colour, shape and texture. However, not many are aware that the difference in densities are the factors affecting its recycling effectiveness,” said Au Yong.

He added, “Among China, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, Malaysia is ranked highest in annual per capita plastic packaging consumption. They are also reportedly responsible for 60% of the ocean plastic pollution in the world, which is about eight million tonnes of plastics. In addition to that, microplastics that are left in the ocean will be consumed by micro marine life, and these marine lives are eaten by small fishes, which are then eaten by bigger fishes. These bigger fishes are then consumed by humans, with the microplastics now residing inside their bodies. So plastic pollution in the ocean is not only harmful to marine lives but also to humans as well.”

In managing plastic waste, Au Yong shed light on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) System. This system aims to encourage EPR practices among consumers and corporates as an obligation; product producers must engage with retailers to pilot alternative delivery systems, and companies to track and annually disclose their use of plastic. The system would also require companies to review the policies taken by their trade associations, and either work to ensure those associations act in accordance with their values or sever their relationships. Stakeholders involved in this system include raw material suppliers, manufacturers and converters of packaging material; producers and importers of packaged goods; distributors, food outlets and retailers of packaged goods; consumers; waste management operators; local authorities or municipalities; and government and other public authorities.

“About 40% of our population showed negative attitudes toward recycling programmes, but an effective waste management plan is only possible when all parties and communities take responsibility in managing waste together. Every consumer must take responsibility for the consumption and waste generated,” advised Au Yong. He then shared some successful waste management plans executed in China.

“If we want to achieve zero waste, then we must do our part. We can practise this 5R concept, which stands for Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle. When possible, we should refuse the use of plastics to eliminate waste, for instance, avoid using plastic straws and plastic bags. Then, we reduce the overall consumption of plastics and avoid buying on impulse. Buy only necessary items and avoid things packed in plastics. Reuse is when you give the item a second life, so try reusing the already available items you have. Repair happens when something gets broken, but is not rendered unusable. So repair what you can and reuse the item. If you have followed the previous four steps, you should have very little waste left, but even so, do recycle waste that can be recycled,” explained Au Yong.

The webinar ended with an interactive Q&A session.