Penang hopes to increase recycling rate to 40% by 2020

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng (pix) has called on Penangites to work together to increase the state's recycling rate to 40%, on par with developed countries.
In a speech during the launch of a waste separation programme in Padang Lalang constituency here today, Lim said to date, Penang has achieved the highest recycling rate in the whole country at 32%.
He said this percentage was three times higher than the national recycling rate, which is 10.5%, adding that the national recycling rate is only expected to increase to 22% in 2020.
"I believe the recycling rate in the state can be increased to 40% or more, making it comparable with other developed countries by 2020.
"I know it's not easy to achieve this, but we have to work together in order for Penang to achieve the international level," he said when he officiated the programme.
The programme, organised by Penang Youth and Sports, Women, Family and Community Development exco Chong Eng, aimed to increase public awareness on the implementation of waste segregation in the state.
Lim, who is also Bagan MP, added that Penangites generated about 1,700 tonnes of waste each day. As a result, local councils such as the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) had spent RM95.64 million and RM98.99 million respectively to handle the waste and cleaning tasks.
Through the Waste Segregation Policy which was implemented on June 1, Lim said he hoped it would help to reduce the total waste in Penang by another 4% because this would help the local councils save about RM2.5 million each year.