SOME 200 volunteers took care of to accumulate 728kg of rubbish washed onto land on Pulau Gazumbo and Pulau Jerejak in Penang.
Their haul belonged to the Island Cleanup Day 2024 program held by Penang Island City Council (MBPP) to elevate ecological recognition.
The volunteers were from KD Sri Pinang navy get device training centre, Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) school in Bertam, Puspanita, Amalgamated National Union of Local Authorities Employees (Anulae) and MBPP.
Heading out on 5 watercrafts from the Penang aquatic cops jetty at Lintang Bayan Mutiara, it took them concerning 3 hours to remove the locations of rubbish.
MBPP mayor Datuk A. Rajendran stated 60% or 438kg of the waste gathered on both islands were single-use plastics while 140kg consisted of aluminium, tin and glass.
Another 150kg consisted of non-recyclable rubbish such as polystyrene foam.
“This marked a reduction in the rubbish collected during a similar cleanup programme that was held by the council on June 30 that saw a haul of 1,255kg of waste, with 86% of it being single-use plastics.
“This goes to show that we are still not disposing of plastics in the proper way.
“We also want to continue reminding people that waste dumped in the open poses a threat to the environment as well as marine life.
“Everyone of us should care for the environment,” he stated in his speech.
Rajendran included that MBPP, with the initiatives of its councillors, had actually established 22 reusing terminals on the island.
This intends to inform the general public on appropriate disposal approaches.
MBPP councillor Rohaizat Hamid stated the program, started prior to the Covid -19 pandemic, has actually been held every year because 2022.
“The rubbish that is washed ashore on these two islands is not only from Penang island but also from the mainland.
“Our beaches and islands are our priceless treasures.
“We must take the initiative to protect them.
“The council is serious in its efforts to protect our environment and such programmes are not a one-time effort,” he stated.
Also existing at the occasion were KD Sri Pinang commander Komander So Lea Kun, Insp Adi Saufi that stood for Pulau Pinang aquatic cops Region One leader Asst Comm Rusley Che Ari, MBPP councillor and PCCC agent David Chen Wooi Teong, UiTM Bertam aide rector Dr Mohamad Azhar Mohd Noor and Anulae Penang head of state Mohd Hanif Abdul Hamid.
Pulau Gazumbo, situated alongside Penang Bridge, was developed from sand build-ups when the bridge was being created from 1983 to 1986.
Over the years, the 3ha synthetic island has actually ended up being an eye sore as big quantities of waste cleaned onto land.
The island was additionally current when 12 pets were formerly discovered deserted on the island.
Several MBPP councillors had actually mosted likely to the island to save the pets however the pets verified difficult to capture and the councillors returned empty-handed.