PETALING JAYA – Non-profit organisation Zero Waste Malaysia (ZWM) launches Trashpedia, the non-profit’s first trash encyclopedia to address local waste management misconceptions, at The School@Jaya One earlier today.
The interactive webpage offers concise information about whether an item can be recycled, where to send it for recycling and most importantly, zero-waste alternatives.
It contains extensive information on 101 trash items, including common household waste, e-waste, medical waste, and more.
Bukit Gasing rep Rajiv Rishyakaran, actress Sharifah Sofia as well as Trashpedia content developer and ZWM volunteer Sabrina Hoong were seen present as part of the panellists invited to discuss the state of environmental awareness among Malaysians.
Empowering a waste-free mind
During the hour-long launch and panel discussion, ZWM noted Ipsos (a global leader in market research) last year recorded that Malaysians are among the highest nation to worry about Covid-19 public health concerns and limitations with a lofty 76% out of 20,000 respondents. In the same sample size, only 1% consciously worry about the effects of climate change.
“Bread and butter issues definitely take up a much larger space in the majority of active discussions, as compared to matters concerning climate change,” said Rajiv.
He highlighted the main issue could well be because the idea and extent of climate change have yet to be interpreted well enough for people to understand its impact, “...not until we experienced the devastating floods last year.”
“I’m sure if the survey was taken after the disaster, that 1% would have been higher,” added the assemblyman.
He further suggests that the narrative on climate action and waste management should be delivered more comprehensively. This is so that the public can understand actions, impact and consequences of various community and environmental issues are interrelated.
“It’s so often that people don’t find the connection between the price of goods and food security with the impact of dealing with a climate crisis. Raising awareness is a long – sometimes taxing journey – but climate literacy is not impossible to achieve.
“I would urge anyone giving attention to become advocates of zero waste and the environment by starting within the community.
“Reach out to your local assemblyman if you have ideas and ways to establish initiatives that focus on sustainability,” expressed Rajiv, noting that sometimes part of the percentage of those not in the know are politicians as well.
“If we can build a collective passion for the environment and climate together, we can become what this event is empowered by.”
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By Malaysians, for Malaysians
“Before developing Trashpedia, ZWM often receive multiple queries on waste management methods from our members. We eventually launched a survey to properly access the existing recycling knowledge and found out that there is a lack of info and resource within the local context,” said Sabrina.
“So the platform is an effort to fill the informational gap in hopes that we can build the community to be more well equipped in their zero waste routine(s).
“We are looking to have Trashpedia translated into three local languages – Malay, Mandarin and Tamil,” she added.
According to Sabrina, what most don’t realise is that reducing, reusing and recycling is truly a localised effort.
“Through Trashpedia we want to keep the conversation running and get people to slowly transition into a zero-waste lifestyle.
In exposing children to waste-free and less carbon footprint habits, Sharifah Sofia highlights, “introducing them to the importance of the matter is the easy part.”
“What requires a little more labour is ensuring that the mentality (and practice) is kept consistent because education starts at home.
“Of course, we send our kids to school to learn and socialise but as parents, the first seven years of our children’s lifetime is the most crucial aspect when it comes to development,” noted the actress.
“Parents can introduce education materials at home where there are a lot of – zero waste activities – that can be done indoors, equally outdoors.
“The past two years dealing with the pandemic was a delight and I loved being able to be with the kids doing composting and building eco brick together. I lost my job at the beginning of it but found time to find other pursuits, which is how I am here today,” she added.
The Zero Waste Malaysia launch of Trashpedia event also saw a one-storey tall Tiger sculpture made up of upcycled waste by duo Co2_Karbondioksida displayed specifically for the event. Visitors curious to see up-close and take photos can visit the space on the ground floor at The School, Jaya One where the artwork is located until 5 May. – The Vibes, April 23, 2022
*Visit https://trashpedia.zerowastemalaysia.org/ to know more about your trash.
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