Penang govt confident waste separation at source system will be successful

The Penang state government is confident that the Waste Separation at Source system to be implemented in the state from June 1 this year will be successful.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the success of the policy would further bring improvements to solid waste and public cleansing management thus making the system more organised, sustainable and advanced.

He said he was convinced the system would be effective based on several factors, among them Penang state had recorded the highest recycling rate of 32 per cent.

"This amount is triple that of the national recycling rate which is only 10 per cent," he said at the launch of Kampung Changkat Waste Separation at Source Pilot Project here, Sunday.

He said Penang also pioneered the 'No Free Plastic Bag Every Day' policy, now used as a model for other states.

He added that the local authorities in Penang spent nearly 40 per cent (almost RM2 million) of the annual budget to manage solid waste and on cleaning of public areas.