Ecogard
Environmental Protection
The main message carried out by Earth Day 2018 is “End Plastic Pollution”. Many types of plastic ultimately end up in our oceans - an estimated 12 million tones every year. In Malaysia, plastic is identified as a major pollutant. Inline to the Melaka’s slogan “MELAKA BERWIBAWA : PINTAR, HIJAU, BERSIH”, we propose a project called ECOGARD to transfer the knowledge to the schools in Melaka about the way to develop a vertical plant growing structure, that occupies less space and requires minimal maintenance. The vertical gardening structure serves to be: (1) a reference model vertical plantation for community, (2) an image to promote green recycling, (3) an alternative economical income generator, (4) a recreational facility in school, (5) a project to promote STEM education.ECOGARD is a project inspired by Verde Garden, which means Vertical Drip Ecological Garden. It was an idea that was gained from the students that participated in the exchange program to the De La Salle University – Dasmariñas (DLSU-D), Philippine from 3 to 16 NOVEMBER 2018. The students and lecturers were fascinated by (DLSU-D) vertical garden when they joined in the activity of making them and believe that they have huge potential. Ever since then the students came up with various ideas to evolve this idea to be better and to be done in MMU when they return. It is a garden built using plastic water bottles with simple modifications and creativity. It applies the concept of recycle, reuse, reduce, refuse and reform, which can be implemented for greening purposes as well as a wall decoration. An ECOGARD with 252 plastic bottles was built in MMU Melaka with each bottle in the garden frame will be able to hold one type of plant. ECOGARD can be built using 1.5L carbonated drink bottles, which can be easily found through recycling. Since the plastic bottles are non-biodegradable, this garden is built to sustain for a long period of time without decomposing, enabling it to have a higher life span. Furthermore, the soil used in the bottles can be made from composite soil and compost food waste.Building ECOGARD in a vertical position by implementing the vertical drip ecological method, it does not occupy a large space and requires only minimal maintenance. By building more of this garden, we can be a step closer to nature amidst the concrete buildings in the campus and schools.
Overview of Issue / Background
The main message carried out by Earth Day 2018 is “End Plastic Pollution”. Many types of plastic ultimately end up in our oceans - an estimated 12 million tones every year. In Malaysia, plastic is identified as a major pollutant. Inline to the Melaka’s slogan “MELAKA BERWIBAWA : PINTAR, HIJAU, BERSIH”, we propose a project called ECOGARD to transfer the knowledge to the schools in Melaka about the way to develop a vertical plant growing structure, that occupies less space and requires minimal maintenance.
The vertical gardening structure serves to be: (1) a reference model vertical plantation for community, (2) an image to promote green recycling, (3) an alternative economical income generator, (4) a recreational facility in school, (5) a project to promote STEM education.
ECOGARD is a project inspired by Verde Garden, which means Vertical Drip Ecological Garden. It was an idea that was gained from the students that participated in the exchange program to the De La Salle University – Dasmariñas (DLSU-D), Philippine from 3 to 16 NOVEMBER 2018. The students and lecturers were fascinated by (DLSU-D) vertical garden when they joined in the activity of making them and believe that they have huge potential. Ever since then the students came up with various ideas to evolve this idea to be better and to be done in MMU when they return.
It is a garden built using plastic water bottles with simple modifications and creativity. It applies the concept of recycle, reuse, reduce, refuse and reform, which can be implemented for greening purposes as well as a wall decoration.
An ECOGARD with 252 plastic bottles was built in MMU Melaka with each bottle in the garden frame will be able to hold one type of plant. ECOGARD can be built using 1.5L carbonated drink bottles, which can be easily found through recycling. Since the plastic bottles are non-biodegradable, this garden is built to sustain for a long period of time without decomposing, enabling it to have a higher life span. Furthermore, the soil used in the bottles can be made from composite soil and compost food waste.
Building ECOGARD in a vertical position by implementing the vertical drip ecological method, it does not occupy a large space and requires only minimal maintenance. By building more of this garden, we can be a step closer to nature amidst the concrete buildings in the campus and schools.
Project Objectives (Vision & Mission)
- To show the learning outcome of the exchange program to the green university De La Salle University – Dasmariñas (DLSU-D), Philippine from 3 to 16 November 2018.
- To transfer the knowledge of developing vertical garden and farming to the citizens through schools
- To raise the awareness of the Melaka citizens about the importance of going green recycling. The project is in line with Melaka’s slogan “MELAKA BERWIBAWA : PINTAR, HIJAU, BERSIH”.
- To introduce to the citizens an economical method of generating income through reuse and recycle.
- To reduce the greenhouse effect and global warming.
- To improve the air quality of the environment.
- To save more spaces in terms of the vertical arrangements.
- Beautify the plain wall around MMU to give a more interesting, cool and relaxing environment for the students and staff.
- To encourage the practice of 5R (reduce, reuse, recycle, refuse and rethink) instead of just 3R (reduce, reuse and recycle).
- To promote more tree planting.
- To spread the concept behind the idea of ECOGARD.
- To allow people to approach nature.
- To make MMU University a greener environment to live in.
- To provide a conducive environment for MMU staff and students.
- To give opportunity to MMU students to show their creativity as the wall can be made in many ways of decoration with the use of plants.
Project Details (Activities and Tasks)
Project name | ECOGard (V2) | |
Proposed venue | Behind the LED signboard screen facing the CCU seminar room OR Beside the LED signboard screen facing the main entrance | |
Organizer | Engineering Society (ENGSOC), Multimedia University (MMU) Melaka Campus, supported by Faculty of Engineering (FET) | |
Organizing Committee | Event Director | 1 |
Assistant Director | 1 | |
Committees | 1 | |
FET Staff | 1 | |
Date of programme |
: 8th August to 31st August 2021
| |
Tools and materials | Steel frame, GI wire, Electric drill, Nail and hammer, PVC pipe, PET bottles, Composite soil, Cutter, scissor and saw, Plants, Markers, Tank, Solar light, Washer | |
- Project Timeline
Date
Time
Venue
Activities
9 August 2021 (4 days/ week)
4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
- Get ready all the materials needed
- Two cars to buy all the stuffs
- Put a few boxes at different area of the campus to collect bottles from students, lecturers and staffs
16 August 2021(4 days/ week)
4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
-Proposed venue
-Engineering Society room
- Install steel frame
- Install the info board for ECOGard
- Collect all the bottles from those boxes and differentiate them according to colors
- Drilling holes at the bottom of each bottles that need to be used with a diameter of 28mm
23 August 2021(4 days/ week)
4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
-Proposed venue
-Engineering Society room
- Start tying all the bottles with plants inside onto the steel frame one by one connected to each other with the use of cable tie
- Start putting soils and plants inside the bottle
- Ensure water them everyday and exposed them to area to sunlight
- Arrange nicely according to the arrangement we planned earlier on
30 August 2021(4 days/ week)
4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
-Proposed venue
-Engineering Society room
- Start doing piping system and try them out one by one
- Install water timer onto the piping system
- Ensure the water flow into each of the bottles
- Take 2 days to observe whether the whole ecosystem is workable with the current piping system
Proposed venues
Behind the LED signboard screen facing the CCU seminar room