Latest news with #RippleCircle
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
NGO calls for state policy to get people to separate recyclable waste
KOTA KINABALU: A non-governmental organisation has called on the Sabah government to draw up a policy to get people to separate recyclable materials from their waste. Community Initiative for Recycling, Circular Learning and Education (Ripple Circle) project director Tressie Yap said with the policy in place, it could reduce the cost and burden at local recycling centres. "Because we don't need to sort out the materials like we are doing now, and the people should be trained to separate their waste before sending them to the centres," said Yap after the launch of the Ripple Circle new recycling centre by Kapayan assemblyman Datuk Jannie Lasimbang at the Luyang multipurpose hall. She said many recyclable materials were disposed of together with other waste materials. "We must have a policy to change the ecosystem and people's mindset, so that we can do the work without additional costs of paying the workers to do the cleaning up," she added. She said Sabah could follow the example of successful countries like Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and Australia, which had a system to segregate recyclable waste, such as a timetable for the collection of papers, plastic and glass. She said a glass recycling project was started by the group in 2019 with support from corporate funders and the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia-Sustainable Development Goals before it ventured into recycling plastic materials. "So we cannot continuously appeal for funding. We have to be sustainable and make progress. Because of this, we have to make products to have a circular economy. "These products are for sale in the souvenir shops in Kota Kinabalu and it can generate between RM2,000 and RM3,000 a month to pay for the workers from the B40 group," said Yap. She said they have also talked to Kota Kinabalu City Hall to transport glass materials collected at Pusat Lestari of the Kota Kinabalu community hall to the recycling centre. Ripple Circle chairman Michelle De La Harpe said they would be hiring 15 people from the B40 group next month at the group's recycling centre. Through previous projects, she said they had diverted more than 41 tonnes of glass and 22 tonnes of plastic away from landfills, besides generating an income of more than RM28,000 for the communities, she said. Present at the event was Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry permanent secretary Datuk Josie Lai.
The Star
4 days ago
- General
- The Star
Ripple aims to make waves in Sabah's green living movement
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Recycling Association (Ripple) is setting up a community-based learning centre to educate the public on household waste management and environmental sustainability. It also intends to train at least 15 leaders for grassroots recycling initiatives. The Ripple Circle (Community Initiative for Recycling, Circular Learning and Education) centre is part of a mission to tackle Sabah's waste issues through volunteerism, education and action, said Ripple Sabah co-chair Michelle De La Harpe. 'This will be more than just a recycling centre. It is a space where community, environment, and education come together to create a lasting impact,' she said at the launch event in Luyang on Friday (July 18). The centre, run entirely by volunteers, will accept sorted and cleaned glass and plastic bottles from 9am to noon every Sunday from next month. Supported by the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Sustainable Development Goals (APPGM SDG), the centre is part of Ripple's wider vision to empower communities through environmental education. 'We aim to train at least 15 people, particularly unemployed youth, women, and those from the B40 group, to become eco-entrepreneurs with the skills to run small-scale recycling businesses,' De La Harpe added. She said earlier Ripple initiatives had diverted over 41 tonnes of glass and 22 tonnes of plastic from landfills, prevented more than 6,000kg of carbon emissions, and generated over RM28,000 in community income. The centre also addresses the lack of structured recycling infrastructure. Co-chair Tressie Yap highlighted the daily struggles faced by Ripple and other NGOs, which end up handling contaminated recyclables during sorting because of poor public awareness. 'We are overwhelmed. People drop off recyclables mixed with food waste and even diapers. Clear policies, proper scheduling and support are needed for recyclers like us,' Yap said. She urged local authorities to step in with structured logistics and manpower, suggesting designated collection days such as paper on Mondays, plastic on Tuesdays, and so on. 'It is not just our problem. All recyclers and social enterprises face the same issue. If Malaysians followed practices like cleaning before recycling, as it's done in Japan and Australia, we would see more grassroots efforts succeed,' De La Harpe added. Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) will be delivering the glass bottles it collects directly to the centre. Friday's launch was officiated by Kapayan assemblyman Datuk Jannie Lasimbang, who said the initiative is an example of how community-led action can align with and strengthen government environmental goals. Some of the materials collected will be repurposed into items like mobile phone holders, book covers and decorative pieces, and sold at outlets both here and in Kuala Lumpur. The movement's flagship store, Upcycle Shack, founded by Yap, is currently Ripple's only operating social enterprise, but there are plans to replicate the model to encourage more artisanal upcycling businesses. 'Response has been very encouraging. We earn between RM2,000 and RM3,000 monthly, which helps cover wages, machine upkeep and operating costs,' Yap added. The public is invited to drop off recyclables every Sunday from August, and those interested in volunteering or participating in training may sign up via Ripple's social media platforms.
