KOTA SAMARAHAN: The problem of disposal of excessive food waste needs to be addressed immediately due to its increasingly poor impact on the environment.

Acting General Manager of the Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA), Kusyairi Bostani said that the amount of food waste today is increasing to the point of causing other problems including soil pollution, odor and fires at garbage dumps.

In this regard, he called on the public to take proactive steps to reduce food waste disposal through composting activities starting from their respective homes.

“Public awareness of this issue is still low because we can see the amount of food waste continues to increase from year to year.

“This requires a comprehensive and thorough effort for us to achieve the target of zero food waste through the efforts of villagers to separate domestic waste from homes using available technology,” he explained.

He said this at the Launching Ceremony of the Home Composting Workshop in conjunction with the Campaign Towards Zero Food Waste by 2030 which was held in Kampung Naie Lama here on Saturday.

According to him, food waste in Kota Samarahan alone reached 43,000 metric tonnes in 2021, and is likely to increase in the coming years.

Apart from maintaining environmental sustainability, he said that making compost from home can also generate additional income for villagers, which can be sold to buyers.

“Residents who are able to process and sell it to this organic fertilizer complex can generate income of up to RM5,000 per 10 metric tons.

“If they can supply 10 times in a year, then they will be able to generate RM50,000 a year,” he explained.

The program organised by LCDA together with the Muara Tuang Women's Development Association and the Naie Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) has successfully brought together 150 participants from eight villages, namely Kampung Mang, Kampung Empila, Kampung Niup, Kampung Tanjung Tuang, Kampung Melayu, Kampung Naie Lama, Kampung Bangka Semong and Kampung Nakong.

Also present were the Muara Tuang Councillor Aziz Muhammad, Chairoman of the Muara Tuang Women's Development Association Suraya Muhiudin, the Head of Kampung Naie Lama Matdihi Ismail and other invited guests. -UKASnews