Zero waste programme for 80 Klang Valley schools 

The Global Environment Centre (GEC) in collaboration with Recycle for Life (RFL) by Cenviro has launched its S.M.A.R.T (Start Managing All Resources Today) Ranger Programme in 80 Klang Valley schools. The zero-waste programme is funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation.

The school programme that is estimated to reach about 40,000 students will encourage the participants to recycle using a buyback system where selected recyclables such as paper, plastic, steel, aluminium and electronic waste are purchased with cash based on the recyclable’s market price.

In each school, SMART Ranger training will be conducted for selected teachers and up to 15 core SMART Ranger students to provide the students with a feeling of ownership and responsibility towards the project, which will help to ensure its sustainability.

The buyback system via the RFL initiative is a self-sustaining activity for schools, where funds can be raised from the sale of recyclables that in turn can be used to fund school’s activities or as well as an avenue for schools to develop key entrepreneurial skills.

Through RFL collection, the recyclables will be weighed and a cash value will be credited into the RFL smart card based on the current market price. Approved by Bank Negara, the RFL smart card can be used for purchase of goods at participating school’s canteen, bookshop, hypermarkets, and merchant partner outlets.

GEC’s SMART Rangers will focus on the Zero Waste Concept through the 4R2C Approach (Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Composting and Closing the loop) while the RFL component will see the schools and students being rewarded with cash through a smart card for their recycling activities.

The two-year project that ends in March 2020 is designed to address the issue of sustainable waste management, particularly in the area of recycling due to lack of an effective recycling collection system in Malaysia.

It is estimated that about an average of 20,000 tonnes of rubbish is collected annually from the Klang River including plastic bottles, cans and other form of domestic waste that can be recycled.