Penang City Council launches food waste separation, coconut fuel conversion and milk waste treatment for Thaipusam to cut landfill waste.
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang City Council (MBPP) will deploy new waste management initiatives for the upcoming Thaipusam celebration to tackle the significant volume of festival waste.
Mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said previous data showed about 100 tonnes of solid waste were generated during the festival, with 20 to 30 tonnes being food waste on peak days.
“Thaipusam is one of the biggest religious festivals celebrated every year in Penang, and although it holds great cultural and religious significance, it also generates a large amount of waste in a short period,” he said in a statement.
The initiatives include processing food waste along Jalan Utama and converting coconut waste into green fuel.
Milk waste will be treated using an Anaerobic Digester to generate green energy.
A pilot project will use a food waste separator machine at designated collection points for public food stalls, or panthals.
Rajendran urged all panthals to dispose of waste only in the designated green bins provided.
The separator machine processes food waste into water, used oil, and dry waste for composting.
This initiative is expected to reduce food waste by 50 to 60%, supporting a circular economy.
About 30 to 40 tonnes of coconut waste is expected to be converted into alternative fuel instead of going to landfill.
MBPP will deploy nine enforcement officers for anti-littering monitoring from Jan 31 to Feb 3.
An additional 27 waste bins will be placed at key locations along the procession route and temple areas.
An educational enforcement approach will be used first to raise public awareness about cleanliness.
Those caught littering may be fined between RM250 and RM500 under the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974.
