Kuala Sepetang – Waste Separation Awareness Campaign
Environmental Protection
Kuala Sepetang is a traditional fishing village in Perak, Malaysia. It is formerly known as Port Weld. The first railway line in Peninsular Malaysia was built up at Kuala Sepetang in 1885. It is mainly constituted by Chinese village (Kuala Sepetang town and Kampung Seberang) and Malay village (Kampung Menteri). Kuala Sepetang is a unique place and well-known for its mangrove forest. It occupied by various types of eco-species. The livelihood of villagers are mainly depends on forestry, fisheries, charcoal industry, agriculture and of course, eco-tourism. It’s inevitable that many youngsters have gone out to find better job opportunity outside Kuala Sepetang. It occur a similar situation as many other traditional towns that age population are aging. Yet, the exciting thing is the attractive environment has opened a new economic of scale for the villagers which is eco-tourism.The old generation has a little knowledge of the importance of perseverance of environment. They do not carry out the 3R which is recycle, reuse, and reduce. Yet, due to the limitation of municipal services, it is estimated that only 20% of residents connected to the waste management services provided by town counsel. Another 80% of residents have to take their very own initiative to manage their waste. Not surprising, it has cause a huge challenge for local counsel and resident from the perspectives of environmentally and socially A large quantity amount of waste resources has been throw away to river way and seas. It has becomes a serious environmental issue for Kuala Sepetang. The precious mangrove forest could be damage by the long term waste disposal. The health of residents could be severe by polluted water sources.The unsettle waste resources has severe the damage level of flood in Kuala Sepetang. The rubbish has forming a resistance to the smooth flow of river way. When the raining is falling more than usual, those rivers way cannot perform its usual function. It has influenced the daily life of villagers significantly.Aside from that, those unsettle waste resources flow into the sea and affected the eco-system. The fisherman has noticed that the quantity of fish has dropped significantly especially cockle. There was a fear that mangrove forest will also get affected in future.As a result, it is time for us to begin and organize a waste separation campaign in Kuala Sepetang. Besides waiting for the implementation of water conservation policy by government, we would like to raise an activity that involves every residents of Kuala Sepetang to protect our environment. Everyone can contribute their effort by recycling their waste resources to reduce the effect of environmental issues.It takes time and effort to collect, separate and send away the trash, but for sure these process can really makes a better, happier and clean community.
Overview of Issue / Background
Kuala Sepetang is a traditional fishing village in Perak, Malaysia. It is formerly known as Port Weld. The first railway line in Peninsular Malaysia was built up at Kuala Sepetang in 1885. It is mainly constituted by Chinese village (Kuala Sepetang town and Kampung Seberang) and Malay village (Kampung Menteri). Kuala Sepetang is a unique place and well-known for its mangrove forest. It occupied by various types of eco-species. The livelihood of villagers are mainly depends on forestry, fisheries, charcoal industry, agriculture and of course, eco-tourism.
It’s inevitable that many youngsters have gone out to find better job opportunity outside Kuala Sepetang. It occur a similar situation as many other traditional towns that age population are aging. Yet, the exciting thing is the attractive environment has opened a new economic of scale for the villagers which is eco-tourism.
The old generation has a little knowledge of the importance of perseverance of environment. They do not carry out the 3R which is recycle, reuse, and reduce. Yet, due to the limitation of municipal services, it is estimated that only 20% of residents connected to the waste management services provided by town counsel. Another 80% of residents have to take their very own initiative to manage their waste. Not surprising, it has cause a huge challenge for local counsel and resident from the perspectives of environmentally and socially A large quantity amount of waste resources has been throw away to river way and seas. It has becomes a serious environmental issue for Kuala Sepetang. The precious mangrove forest could be damage by the long term waste disposal. The health of residents could be severe by polluted water sources.
The unsettle waste resources has severe the damage level of flood in Kuala Sepetang. The rubbish has forming a resistance to the smooth flow of river way. When the raining is falling more than usual, those rivers way cannot perform its usual function. It has influenced the daily life of villagers significantly.
Aside from that, those unsettle waste resources flow into the sea and affected the eco-system. The fisherman has noticed that the quantity of fish has dropped significantly especially cockle. There was a fear that mangrove forest will also get affected in future.
As a result, it is time for us to begin and organize a waste separation campaign in Kuala Sepetang. Besides waiting for the implementation of water conservation policy by government, we would like to raise an activity that involves every residents of Kuala Sepetang to protect our environment. Everyone can contribute their effort by recycling their waste resources to reduce the effect of environmental issues.
It takes time and effort to collect, separate and send away the trash, but for sure these process can really makes a better, happier and clean community.
Project Objectives (Vision & Mission)
Creating Green awareness
- Promote the importance of green environment to residents of Kuala Sepetang and its sustainability in daily life.
Strengthen the cohesion among residents
- To enables every residents of Kuala Sepetang to contribute their effort in protecting their homeland from waste pollution. Implementation of peer reward system (Go Green Lifestyle Campaign) to encourage the recycling of domestic waste resources.
Minimize the risk of waste pollution in damaging natural asset
- To protect the precious asset of Kuala Sepetang where there is Mangrove forest and its eco-system.
Project Details (Activities and Tasks)
At first, we will need to establish rapport with the community, especially to meeting with the key leaders of the community, for instance, the state assemblymen (ADUN) of Kuala Sepetang, the local societies or associations (temple), youth club, and the schools nearby.
After getting the consensus and the will of collaboration from these key leaders, we will start to advertise our program/workshop to the community as well as to the schools’ students.
The approaches to maximize the impacts and awareness of the public:
Initiate: We intent to carry out the program/long-term campaign together with the key leaders and consistently organize Recycle Program. We will organize Waste Separation and Collecting the recycle items from the villagers. This event will carry out twice a month at different collecting points.
Involve: After we initiate this campaign, we will get the local key leaders to get themselves involve in this campaign. For example, we will get the permission from the key leaders as we want to use the space of their office and also part of the space of community library to be our recycle items collecting points. Besides that, we will also get into the school to promote our campaign and having Waste Separation Workshop with children. On the other hand, we will also invite Speaker (those who experienced in Waste Separation) to share their experiences during awareness talk and trash management talk for the villagers.
Implement: Train the residents to apply Go Green Lifestyle Campaign and promote the importance of green environment and its sustainability in daily life.
Impact: The awareness of the importance of Waste Separation and Recycle will raise throughout the campaign.
As to ensure a long term impact, we will also suggest the key leaders to implement peer reward system and encourage villagers to take part in Waste Separation and Collecting Recycle items
Expected Project Result & Outcomes
- Residents aware the importance of green environment and its sustainability.
- To promote the waste minimization of resources based on the implementation of peer reward system.
- To reduce the occurrence of flood which caused by waste pollution in river way.
0% of RM1.00 Goal
Project Information
| University name | : | University Malaysia Perlis |
| Project leader name | : | Colin Chong Ee Ming |
Section I
SECTION I: SUMMARY OF PROJECT GOALS
Recycle project held in Kuala Sepetang is to raise “Go Green” awareness among the residents. This project had created a platform for residents to practice recycle in an easier way.
DETAILS IN PROJECT RUNNING (TIMELINE)
To run the project, we first met the state assemblymen of Kuala Sepetang, YB Chuah Yee Ling on 19th of July 2016. She shown her support on our project and kindly provide the team an accommodation at Local Community Library (KAKTAO 46) throughout the project. Through YB, we had met the Village Chief of Kuala Sangga and Principal of SRJK (C) Poay Chee (current formal Principal). The Village Chief willing to provide us a corner to collect the recyclable items from the villagers. On 7th August 2016, we re-visited Kuala Sangga and do the free member registration for the project. We had also have an opportunity to do a talk for the students in SRJK (C) Poay Chee to demonstrate the correct method of recycle despite raised the awareness on recycling among students. A boat will be arrange to transfer the recyclable from Kuala Sangga to the mainland of Kuala Sepetang once the recyclable items is fully occupied. On 15th August 2016, JCI Taiping (introduce) has arrange a short session talk on Recycle which was held in the Hua Lian High School where the young high school member of JCI Taiping was the audience. On that day, a recycle activity has been held at Seberang which involve the Local Kids and Community.
On 28th of October, the free registration has been done manually in Seberang, Kampung Menteri, and Tepi Sungai and a total 150 has registered online under the Recycle Programme. The publicity has been done in the method of house to house, man to man under team cooperation. Then, poster and brochure were designed for publicity and as a preparation for the upcoming open ceremony. A wallpaper is also made by using recyclable items as decoration. The process of manufacturing sticker is also initiated begin from that period.
On 12th November 2016, Dr. Tan Ching Seong had come to give a talk and presentation on the recycle system to the members. 13th November 2016, an open ceremony has been held. We had invited authorities from Kohijau, I-Cycle together with YB Chuah Yee Ling for the launching. During the launch, simple demonstration has been shown to the public and a booth is set up for further new member registration. The distribution of sticker (with code) to the registered member who attend the ceremony is also done during the ceremony.
By 17th January, our team had prepared a proposal and met the principal of SJK (C) Poay Eng to further discuss series of activity which will be held in school on 20th January 2017.
|
Time |
Activities |
|
1200 – 1205 |
Assemble the Kids |
|
1205- 1230 |
Presentation/Talk and Video Sharing Session |
|
1230- 1300 |
Interactive Activity (Mini Games and Q&A) |
Further stickers distribution is done by the following days. A workshop session with the children also has been conducted on 22nd January 2017.The principal of SJK(C) Poay Eng has offered us a recycle corner and notice board in school. 3 recycle bin which made up of recyclable chemical tongs is designed and located in the school compound. Besides, we have done a recycle activity with some volunteers from JCI Taiping and Youth Club members to collect recyclables before Chinese New Year as we know many recyclables will be throw away during that period of time.
BARRIERS
In Kuala Sepetang, language barrier exist as majority of the residents speaks Hokkien. Due to the existence of Kuala Sepetang as fishing village, most of the young man work at daytime and leaving the old age people who only understand Hokkien in house. Therefore, the challenge is to use limited Hokkien language to explain to the people during the publicity which conducted house to house. The brochure are made in Mandarin and distribute during publicity so that the kids and young people could easily understand. Another barrier is due to the geographical constraint where Seberang was disconnected to the waste management services. The old residents preferred to throw their daily waste into the sea.
SPONSORSHIP / BUDGET
Throughout the project, to show support, YB Chuah Yee Ling, the state assemblymen, together with KOHIJAU has made their contribution in donating a portable recycle bin which cost around rm2500. The portable recycle bin is made base on the previous design mentioned in the proposal. It is has a dimension of 150cm x 89cm. The budget suggested is sufficient to run the program within the timeline. Remaining fund will be used in subsequent activity as recycle project is a sustainable project.
BENEFICIARIES
Throughout the project, we have around 200 registered residents which willing to practice recycle. The aim of the project which is to raise the awareness on recycle is executed successfully in Kuala Sepetang as the publicity as done in school, public and housing area. The team has successfully educate the children in school on recycle and create a peer reward system to encourage the practice of recycle among residents in Kuala Sepetang. Although the impact is still minute and yet to see, but we believe that the willingness of the resident to practice recycle can create a better environment in housing area and sustain the Eco- tourism in Kuala Sepetang.
FUTURE
In future, there will be more program held in Kuala Sepetang regarding recycle. Investigation and survey are needed to identify the improvement needed in the system. The focus in future is to influence the residents to practice recycle in daily life after knowing the pros of recycle and create a better landscape with minimum waste.
SECTION II :
Personally, we feel glad to own the opportunity to participate in Project Happiness. We have learnt countless values from the people around us despite building a strong relationship with the active residents in the community including the kids and young man. They have gave us mental and physical support throughout the project. We share many memories together. For long term, this project helps to reduce the landfills and save the space. As the population continue to grow, it will be hard for the landfills to hold the trashes. This project created the awareness among the residents in Kuala Sepetang so they can make recycle as a habit. Furthermore, it also help to save the valuable resources and the ecosystem. Without those, there is no happiness anymore.
The project has changed the way I thought as more effort needed from private and government sector to bring improvement to our environment as a good environment is the basis to support a healthy and happy human life. I also notice passion and kindness of people living in Kuala Sepetang as they offered countless help throughout the project. Throughout the project,my team members and people from outside has gave full cooperation. All their effort has bring to our current success.
“Happiness and Meaning of Life is all the good deed we GAVE throughout the journey, to make a little change, for a better tomorrow. Let’s Create a Greener and Happier Future Together! ”
– Colin Chong 2017
“ In future, recycle is a must to save us, save the generations and save the world. ”
-Wen Yee 2017
“Human tends to forget how important recycle can be to the world and it is important for this project to maintain the awareness, for a long term.”
Cavin Lim 2017
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