BAGAN SERAI: MK Land Holdings Berhad (MK Land) has demonstrated its dedication to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives by launching a recycling awareness campaign at its resorts.
The campaign aims to inspire and encourage local community involvement in practising sustainable waste management, starting through its subsidiary, Bukit Merah Resort Sdn Bhd, which operates the Bukit Merah Laketown Resort (BMLR) here.
Its deputy chief operating officer, Nazri Tumin, said that the campaign, which began on Nov 17 and will run until the end of this month, is a continuation of the company's success in diverting more than eight metric tons of waste from its office buildings in the Klang Valley.
Nazri said that the campaign will be followed by the implementation of the 5R principles (refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle) at BMLR, particularly through the operation of food waste composting machines, which are expected to be used at the resort starting in December.
"In addition to providing recycling bins, we will also begin using composting machines specifically for kitchen waste to process it into compost, which can then be used to fertilise the landscaping plants at the resort.
"At BMLR, which features a lake surrounded by lush greenery, waste management must be controlled and environmentally friendly. We are expanding our efforts, especially in food waste management, to reduce our environmental footprint.
"This will also help preserve important natural resources for the local community where we operate, while the campaign also provides an opportunity for us to engage directly with the local community in promoting responsible waste management practices," he said.
He said this during the launch of the Recycling Campaign themed 'Waste to Cash' at BMLR, attended by the Kerian District Council (MDK) secretary, Norhafisah Mohamad recently.
Nazri said that the campaign, in collaboration with MDK and several private organisations such as Trash4Cash, Zera Waste Earth Store, Ipoh Refill, and others, is part of MK Land's corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, demonstrating strong corporate responsibility and making a tangible impact on effective waste management within the community.
"Malaysia faces a major challenge in waste management, with more than 39,000 tons of domestic solid waste disposed of every day, equivalent to 1.17 kilograms per person. Food waste alone accounts for more than 30 per cent of this total, about 8.3 million metric tons per year, or roughly 260 kg per person.
"With population growth, changing lifestyles, and rapid urbanisation continuing to generate waste, proactive solutions are needed to preserve valuable natural resources and protect the environment for future generations," he said.
Nazri added that the involvement of 70 students from seven primary schools around the Kerian district in the campaign is expected to raise environmental awareness and inspire young people to think creatively about reusing materials, instilling a sense of responsibility for future generations.
"MK Land, through BMLR, is intensifying its waste management efforts to help tackle this challenge, and the recycling campaign is a cornerstone of this commitment, with the goal of involving and inspiring the local community to adopt sustainable practices.
"Going forward, the concept of awareness about green practices and related initiatives must be nurtured and started from the grassroots level because it may align with the green goals in the development of the Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park (KIGIP) in this district," he said.