New Recycling Centre Launched to Tackle Glass and Plastic Waste

19 July 2025

KOTA KINABALU : Members of the public can drop off used glass and plastic bottles for recycling at the newly launched Community Initiative for Recycling, Circular Learning and Education (Ripple Centre), located at the Luyang multipurpose hall.

Ripple Chairperson Michelle De La Harpe announced that the volunteer-led facility will begin receiving clean, used glass and plastic bottles every Sunday from 9am to 12pm, starting next month.

“Volunteers will assist with sorting, cleaning, and crushing the collected items to ensure they’re suitable for recycling,” she said during the launch, officiated by Kapayan Assemblywoman Datuk Jannie Lasimbang.

Supported by the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia – Sustainable Development Goals (APPGM-SDG), the Ripple Centre is designed to serve not only as a recycling collection point but also as a community hub for environmental education and sustainable waste management.

Michelle revealed that 15 individuals from the B40 income group and currently unemployed locals will be recruited in August and trained to lead localised recycling activities.

Key initiatives include the refurbishment of a community learning space, provision of mobile collection bins, establishment of neighbourhood drop-off points, and delivery of educational workshops on recycling, waste sorting, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“This initiative addresses the critical lack of accessible recycling infrastructure and limited public awareness. By building a proper system, we aim to reduce landfill waste and pollution while fostering community participation in environmental protection,” she explained.

The Ripple Centre also intends to create income-generating opportunities, particularly for youth and women, by supporting green entrepreneurship and upcycling efforts.

Since its establishment in 2019, Ripple has collected 41,284.80 kilogrammes of glass bottles—preventing approximately 208,509 bottles from ending up in landfills and reducing 6,880.80 kilogrammes of carbon dioxide emissions.

Michelle highlighted that the initiative has so far been supported by 707 volunteers, welcomed 1,707 visitors, and conducted 588 educational workshops.

From April 2023 to July 2024, Ripple’s plastic recycling project successfully diverted 22.06 tonnes of plastic waste from landfill disposal.

“To incentivise participation, the public received RM28,654.45 in rewards, including RM2 per kilogramme for properly cleaned plastic items,” she noted. “Meanwhile, the sale of recycled products generated RM30,056.60 to help fund our operational costs.”

Looking ahead, Michelle expressed confidence in the project’s long-term sustainability. By cultivating recycling habits, training local coordinators, and strengthening logistical systems, Ripple aims to remain operational and impactful even beyond the end of formal funding.

The centre also plans to continue supporting upcycling initiatives, forging partnerships with buyers of recycled goods, and collaborating with local councils to expand the programme to other communities.