RESIDENTS of Desa Mawar Flats in Air Itam and nearby areas can now recycle their unwanted electronic waste easily with the setup of the first e-waste recycling station in the vicinity.
This e-waste recycling station is located at the Desa Mawar neighbourhood park.
The initiative was a brainchild of Penang Island City Council (MBPP) councillor Rohaizat Hamid.
Rohaizat said the e-waste recycling station is the first of its kind established in the public neighbourhood area.
“The objective is to educate people about the importance of waste segregation.
“We can observe nowadays that electronic waste is being discarded in regular trash cans and on the roadside.
“Thus, when we set up the e-waste recycling station here, we hope we can guide the public on the proper way of disposing of their unwanted electronic waste,” he said in his speech before Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng Soon Siang officiated the recycling station today.
Also present were MBPP mayor Datuk A. Rajendran and MBPP councillor Tan Soo Siang.
Rajendran said more e-waste recycling stations would be set up in the neighbourhood areas across the island.
He said this is important as the city council wants the people to know how to dispose of their electronic waste properly.
Ng also urged the residents of Desa Mawar Flats and the surrounding areas to bring their unwanted electronic waste, including mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and televisions, for safe disposal at the e-waste recycling station.
He said environmental protection is an urgent matter that requires everyone’s participation.
“This is because improperly disposed electronic waste can have detrimental effects on both our health and environment due to its hazardous chemical composition.
“Thus, I hope everyone will take action and join our environmental movement to protect our home together,” said Ng.
On a separate matter, after the ceremony, Ng distributed a total of 450 Mandarin tree saplings to residents for simultaneous planting during the upcoming one million trees event scheduled for April 22.
Story and pix by Riadz Akmal