Tzu Chi Malaysia celebrates 30 years of green impact

Tzu Chi Malaysia marked three decades of environmental advocacy with a nationwide “Go Green, Go Plogging” campaign on June 29, 2025. This significant event, themed “30 Years of Environmentalism, Walking Together Towards Sustainability,” encouraged Malaysians across the country to participate in an activity combining physical exercise with community clean-up.

From the early hours, volunteers in communities nationwide transformed their Sunday routines into purposeful acts of caring for the environment. The “plogging” activity, which involves picking up litter while jogging or walking, served to promote not only environmental awareness but also physical and mental well-being among participants. The campaign highlighted a simple yet effective way for individuals to contribute to a cleaner environment while staying active.

Community engagement

In Petaling Jaya, over 100 participants converged at Cempaka, one of Tzu Chi’s foundational environmental hubs in the Klang Valley. From this central point, volunteers fanned out into surrounding areas such as Sunwaymas and Aman Suria, meticulously cleaning public streets, parks, and sidewalks. This collective effort drew together a diverse group including students, professionals, families, and retirees, all united in the shared goal of removing waste from their local environments. Unlike previous initiatives that focused on material sorting, this anniversary event specifically emphasised direct community engagement, with volunteers equipped with reusable bags and gloves, encouraging onlookers to reflect on their own waste habits.

The nationwide “Go Green, Go Plogging” campaign represents a natural evolution of Tzu Chi Malaysia’s environmental journey, which began modestly in 1995 with a small group of volunteers collecting recyclables door-to-door. Over the past 30 years, this grassroots movement has expanded significantly, becoming one of Malaysia’s most impactful environmental initiatives. The foundation now boasts over 1,000 collection points nationwide, including more than 160 full-fledged recycling centres, and has successfully diverted over half a million tonnes of waste from landfills. This extensive network underscores the organisation’s profound impact on waste management in the country.

Fostering sustainable communities

Tzu Chi’s commitment extends beyond waste collection to encompass environmental education and civic responsibility. The organisation has forged crucial partnerships with local councils, including MBPJ and MBSA, and receives support from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) and SWCorp (Perbadanan Pengurusan Sisa Pepejal dan Pembersihan Awam). These collaborations have bolstered its capacity to deliver practical, values-driven environmental programmes.

In Petaling Jaya, the local chapter continues to operate multiple recycling and outreach sites in areas such as SS25, SS2, Kayu Ara, and PJS9/10. These locations serve as essential drop-off points and educational hubs, teaching residents about mindful consumption and responsible waste management.

The “Go Green, Go Plogging” campaign not only commemorates a significant milestone but also reaffirms Tzu Chi’s core philosophy that consistent, small actions can lead to substantial, far-reaching environmental impact, aligning with global sustainability goals.