Compost project for PJ folks

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/5/30/central/21390406&sec=central
By TAN KARR WEI

PETALING Jaya residents can volunteer to take part in an 18-month project to compost their household waste.

The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and the Centre for Environment, Technology and Development, Malaysia (Cetdem), signed an agreement to run a community household waste composting project on Wednesday.

MBPJ secretary Puasa Mohd Taib said PJ residents generated 145,000 tonnes of rubbish in 2007 and the recycling rate was less than three per cent.

He added that the council spent RM38mil and RM44mil in waste management in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

Through the Community Household Composting (CHC@PJ) project, 50 households from different geographical and demographical backgrounds would be selected and guided on the proper ways of composting.

The houses or high-rise residential units should have enough space to carry out the composting.
Materials like buckets, bins and recording charts would be given and participants would also attend training workshops and review meetings.

The project cost of RM120,000 would be funded by the Danish International Development Assistance solid waste management component (Danida-SWMC) Housing and Local Government Ministry national solid waste management department assistant director Dr Tan Beng Hoe said the initiative is in line with the ministry’s policy in promoting public participation in solid waste management, especially in waste separation and minimisation.

MBPJ is one of the 10 local authorities that would institutionalise public participation in solid waste management.

Also present at the signing ceremony were Danida-SWMC chief technical advisor Ib Larsen, Cetdem executive director Anthony Tan and Bukit Gasing assemblyman Edward Lee.
To apply or for more details, contact Tan Siew Luang of Cetdem at 03-7875 7667 or email of@cetdem.org.my; or MBPJ LA21 officer Lee Lih Shyan at 03-7956 3544 or email lee@mbpj.gov.my.