Organic waste diversion project in UM campus

VeeCYCLE is embarking in an organic waste diversion project in 2010. The project aims to recover organic waste of food waste, yard waste and wooden bulky waste. The are two phases: first phase is diversion of food waste and wooden bulky waste; while the second phase is the diversion of yard waste.

For the food waste diversion, which is the primary concern, a "green bag scheme" will be introduced. In this scheme, all the cafe operators in UM campus have to dispose of the food waste from the eatery areas in the green bags. The green bags will then be collected by JPPHB (the department that manage the waste collection) and be transferred to the UM central waste disposal site. At the disposal site, the green bags will be unloaded in the designated RORO bin, to be hauled by the appointed waste contractor to a mass scale composting plant. The food waste will be turned into natural fertilizer.

For the wooden bulky waste diversion, this type of waste will be transferred to a biogas recovery plant to be converted into energy. While the yard waste diversion is in the planning stage now.

Yesterday, we had a project round table discussion and meeting with UM TNC (Development) Datuk Dr. Khaw Lake Tee, the strategic partners and relevant parties. They are Mr. Sooria (Chairman of DBKL LA21 SWM Committee and LA21 manager of Alam Flora sdn bhd), Prof. Sumiani (the project adviser), Dr. Gan from Rapat Nusantara sdn bhd, En. Abdullah and En. Zam from JPPHB, Dr. Zeeda and Rani from UM Cares and my team members, Mr. Ng (President of VeeCYCLE), Terence and Phoebe.

The outcome is positive with the TNC had given us the green light to implement the project. However, we are at the early stage of the project, with a long way to go.

Before the day, we had a strategic discussion with Dato' Dr. Abu Bakar Jaafar, a well-known environment figure in our country and he had given us some brilliant advices.

Hopefully, the project can commence in this year!

For the d