FRIDAY, 29 JUNE - An inaugural fruitful discussion coordinated by the EcoCampus Management Centre (EMC), UMS was carried out between the Faculty of Engineering, UMS and ‘No More Plastic in Our Waters’ (NOW) Project Group today.

The discussion primarily focused on the potentiality of partnership between the faculty and NOW Project Group to engineer a trash skimmer boat to collect floating plastic waste from the ocean and/or rivers, and to set up a waste plastic pelletizing teaching-pilot plant, a system that turns plastic waste into repurposed products at the faculty. 

Indeed, plastic waste is choking our Earth as nearly 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic waste have been produced worldwide since 1950s, and only 10% have been recycled.

Malaysia is not spared the agony as approximately 1.0 million tonnes of plastic waste were created making the country the 8th most affected nation globally.

Hence, such an initiative, although was preliminary in state, is deemed imperative to transform ideas and suggestions into localized actual actions that eventually address the pressing issue of plastic pollution.

The success of this partnership will inevitably also provide a showcase in sustainable environmental issue solution for both UMS and NOW Project Group.

The NOW Project Group is a Public-Private Partnership being presided by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Sabah, and the group is being led by Gaya Recycle Sdn. Bhd.

The group consists of various private companies, NGOs, media, and governmental agencies, including UMS.

Present during the discussion were Dr. Abu Zahrim Yaser, Deputy Dean (Research & Innovation) and Dr. Mohd. Suffian Misaran@Misran of the Faculty of Engineering, UMS, Mr. Adam C.Y. Chan and Ms. Norfatimah Isa as the Secretariat of the NOW Project Group, and Mr. Kueh Boon Hee @ Kelvin, Deputy Director of EMC, UMS.

Source: EcoCampus Management Centre