KUCHING – The Sarawak government has urged the public to adopt recycling practices in daily life, as the state’s recycling rate remains below 10 percent, particularly in relation to food waste.
Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment, Datuk Len Talif Salleh, said food waste is a recurring issue at programmes and events, requiring immediate action to prevent long-term environmental problems.
He stressed that consumption habits must change, especially in food management and the use of raw materials.
“This is because the cost of recycling is high, so the way we use these materials needs to be looked at comprehensively so that we do not face difficulties in dealing with waste problems in the future,” he explained.
Datuk Len made the remarks after attending the ‘Sustainability Within, Green Earth Beyond 2025’ programme at Surau Darul Hijrah, Darul Hana, on Saturday.
He noted that recycling efforts remain low and require greater awareness from the perspective of consumption culture, beginning at the early stages of education.
He highlighted the role of youth, particularly school students, as ambassadors who can share knowledge and educate communities on recycling methods and waste management.
This aligns with the call by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, who has urged the public to embrace the concept of a circular economy with the message: “Don’t waste the waste, monetize the waste.”
Earlier, Datuk Len visited a sustainability exhibition and observed a food waste recycling demonstration before planting a symbolic ‘Bucida Putih’ tree.
The programme also saw the planting of approximately 210 trees across seven zones in the Darul Hana Housing Estate, featuring a variety of landscape species.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department, Datu Sr Zaidi Mahdi, General Manager of the Land Development and Conservation Authority (LCDA), and Datu Jack Liam, Sarawak Environmental Quality Controller.
Their presence underscored the government’s collective commitment to sustainability and environmental protection.
The initiative reflects Sarawak’s broader strategy to integrate recycling and conservation into everyday life, ensuring that future generations inherit a cleaner, greener, and more resilient environment.
