IPOH: A total of 907.1 metric tonnes of used tyres have been successfully recycled in areas under the jurisdiction of the Ipoh City Council (MBI) area so far this year through a collaboration between MBI and Thowlee Recycle under the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Golden Triangle (IMT-GT) subregional cooperation initiative.
Ipoh Mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin (pix) said about 20 metric tonnes of used tyres are recycled daily through the pyrolysis method, which involves a process of melting without the presence of oxygen, to produce secondary products used in various sectors.
“This process involves breaking down rubber to produce products such as fuel and raw materials, which are then sold to ceramic factories and related companies,” he said after a visit to Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Raja Perempuan here today.
Also present were Hatyai deputy mayor, Dr. Wichai Kanchanasuwan and People’s Representative Council (DPR) Acheh Head of Commission II, Khairil Syahrial.
Rumaizi said the main objective of the programme is to minimise the disposal of used tyres and open burning in public places.
“In addition, it can also reduce environmental issues caused by the disposal of tyres, which can lead to public health problems such as breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes,” he said.
He said the IMT-GT is a sub-regional cooperation initiative formed in 1993 by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, with the aim of accelerating economic transformation in these countries and recognising economic complementarity and opportunities in the sub-region.
In another development, he said the public, especially those residing in Ipoh, have the opportunity to receive cash rewards by disposing of used items at the Trash4cash Automatic Drive-Through Recycling Centre in Padang Lintau, Manjoi.
He said the recycling centre, under the management of Majuperak Utilities Management Sdn Bhd (MUMSB), operates 24 hours a day and implements the ‘Do It Yourself’ concept using the ‘Trash4cash’ digital platform to handle necessary information and user data.
Among the items accepted are aluminium cans, plastic containers, cardboard boxes, paper, electronic waste and used cooking oil, he said. -Bernama
