SUSTAINABLE PLASTIC & COMMUNITY CIRCULAR ECONOMY INITIATIVE STRENGTHENS RECYCLING PRACTICES IN PARIT BUNTAR

PARIT BUNTAR, PERAK, 10 February 2026 - The School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering (PPKBSM), Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) continues to intensify efforts in promoting environmental sustainability and community development through the organisation of the Sustainable Plastic & Community Circular Economy Initiative Phase 1 2026, held at the Open Hall, Taman Murni, today.

Its Dean, Professor Ts. Dr. Zulkifli Mohamad Ariff, said the programme reflects the university’s role as a driver of sustainable change in line with USM’s mission, Transforming Higher Education for a Sustainable Tomorrow.

“Programmes such as this are not merely awareness activities but serve as platforms for the transfer of university knowledge and technology to the community. This aligns with USM’s aspiration as an APEX University that emphasises sustainability, social impact, and continuous community engagement,” he said.

He stressed that the circular economy approach could open new opportunities for the local community, particularly the B40 group.

“When the community understands the value of waste and proper management methods, we not only reduce pollution but also create potential income opportunities and build a more resilient and environmentally responsible society,” he added.

The programme was implemented in collaboration with the Taman Murni Neighbourhood Committee (KRT), the Tzu Chi Association and Desasiswa Jaya Lembaran Utama, with support from USM’s Industry and Community Network Division (BJIM) through the Community Engagement Grant.

Led by Dr. Mohamad Danial Shafiq, the initiative adopted an integrated approach encompassing pre- and post- Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) assessments, knowledge-sharing sessions and interactive activities based on real-life experiences.

The programme aimed to enhance public understanding of plastic waste management, proper recycling practices and the potential of the circular economy in daily life.

Through systematic knowledge transfer and practical skills training, the initiative targets the empowerment of suburban communities to enable them to generate sustainable income.

Participants were introduced to a new perspective that plastic waste is not merely discarded material, but a valuable resource that can support economic sustainability and help reduce the cost of living. Practical waste segregation activities were also conducted to build participants’ confidence in practising recycling at the household level.

The programme recorded significant improvements in participants’ knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding waste management and circular economy concepts, further strengthening awareness of environmental sustainability and community well-being.

In addition to incorporating social responsibility elements through Ramadan contributions, the initiative also paves the way for continued impact through Phase 2, titled Trash Transformers, which will focus on recycling innovation and community-based income generation.

The organisers hope the programme will serve as a catalyst for change in community-level waste management practices while strengthening collaboration between the university and society towards sustainable development.

Also present were Chairman of the Taman Murni Neighbourhood Committee, Haji Mohd Radzi Ramli; Head of the Tzu Chi Association Nibong Tebal Branch, Wong Sing Chooy; and Desasiswa Jaya Lembaran Utama Fellow, Hasliza Mat Saad.

Text: Siti Faizah Abd Halim/Photo: Muhammad Taufik Abdul Rahman