FACED with having to dispose several thousand tonnes of garbage, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is implementing policies to promote responsible consumption.
Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif said an annual budget of RM260mil was required to manage the 2,300 tonnes of daily waste generated in Kuala Lumpur.
She said DBKL was implementing several zero-waste best practices such as waste-separation, composting programmes and the use of smart city solutions to digitally monitor waste disposal.
“Some other initiatives include the Waste-to-Wealth upcycling programme and the One Community, One Recycle initiative, which is a community-driven recycling effort to reduce landfill waste.
“We have also transformed used cooking oil into biodiesel under our collaborative waste-to-energy initiative with the private sector.
“This significantly reduces carbon emissions and promotes a circular economy for a cleaner and more resilient urban future.
“All of us hold the power to rethink, reduce, reuse and recycle to preserve the planet for future generations,” she said when receiving Turkiye First Lady Emine Erdogan at Perdana Botanical Garden, Kuala Lumpur.
During the reception, Maimunah said Erdogan’s visit reflected enduring ties between Malaysia and Turkiye, especially their shared commitment towards a sustainable and waste-free world.
“As one of the world’s foremost advocates for environmental sustainability, your visionary leadership continues to inspire us to be better custodians of our cities and planets.
“Malaysia, too, is making significant strides towards a circular economy and we deeply value this opportunity to learn from Turkiye.
“Your presence here today serves as a powerful reminder that sustainability is not merely a policy, but also a way of life.
“Through us, you have a strong advocate and friend for zero-waste practices in the Asean region,” Maimunah said, referring to Erdogan.
Also present were Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail who is the wife of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa and Zero Waste Foundation president Samed Agirbas.
They accompanied Erdogan to a special exhibition that showcased various initiatives and policies related to waste management.
DBKL, Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC) and Seberang Perai City Council were among participants of the exhibition highlighting innovative solutions, eco-friendly policies and the community’s role in supporting the urban sustainability agenda.
Erdogan and Dr Wan Azizah also witnessed the signing of the letters of exchange (LOE) between Zero Waste Foundation from Turkiye and DBKL, as well as between Zero Waste Foundation and MGTC.
The letters formalised ties between the parties in strengthening zero-waste policies, enhancing recycling efforts and advancing technological exchange in sustainable waste management.
Maimunah said she looked forward to cultivating a close collaboration between DBKL and Zero Waste Foundation to achieve the carbon-neutral commitment under Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan 2040.
Erdogan later planted a Merbau sapling, Malaysia’s national tree.
Soure: The Star