KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 1): The Malaysian Recycling Alliance (MAREA) has kicked off the second phase of its Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) pilot project in Langkawi.

In a statement on Wednesday, the alliance said the project aims to foster effective collaboration among government stakeholders, producers, manufacturers and other key stakeholders within the value chain who share a common vision of supporting the circular economy approach.

The pilot project, launched in 2022, comprises three phases: understanding, intervention and scale-up.

Currently in the second phase, the project is focused on intervention to improve solid waste management and recycling activities in Langkawi, with implementation across four residential areas in Langkawi, specifically Taman Sri Aman, Kampung Padang Putih, Simfoni Beliza Apartment and Taman Dahlia, covering a total of more than 1,300 households. This entails consumer education and public awareness (CEPA) engagements, as well as recycling activities within the communities.

MAREA chief executive officer Roberto Benetello said the launch of the second phase featured interactive activities aimed at fostering community engagement and raising awareness on proper waste management.

“This included colouring and drawing competitions for children and teenagers, as well as separation at source-centred competitions for adults such as the separate waste competition, which provided a hands-on opportunity for attendees to practice waste separation techniques with support from trainers.

“MAREA’s contribution will also facilitate the collection of recyclables from neighbourhoods with difficult access.

“Special collection tricycles will be able to access narrow rural alleys and bring the recyclables to the main road for collection by larger trucks from our partner E-Idaman,” he said.