BY: Michelle Liew
A total of 461.71 kilograms of surplus food and 733 kilograms of beverages were saved from being dumped in solid waste landfills last year through the Value Food No Waste program organized by the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp).
Negeri Sembilan SWCorp director Siti Yusnita Mohamad Yusof said the surplus food and beverages that were not sold at the Ramadan bazaar but were still edible could be distributed to those in need as a result of cooperation with the Negeri Sembilan Gema Youth Organization and traders.
She said that during Ramadan, there were three bazaar sites involved in the success of the program, namely Lotus Nilai Bazaar, Taman Semarak Bazaar and Bandar Baru Nilai Bazaar.
“According to last year’s statistics, we found out that about 4,086 metric tonnes of food waste wasted in the country most of which is still edible. Moreover, on average every family in the country had wasted 500 grams to 800 grams of uneaten food.
“Through this campaign (MySaveFood: Value Food No Waste@Bazar Ramadan 2022), we will collect food and beverages that can still be eaten but not sold to be handed over to residents around the bazaar or those in need,” she said after launching the MySaveFood Campaign Program: Value Food No Waste@Bazar Ramadan 2022 at Bazar Ramadan Nilai yesterday.
She added that through the campaign last year, they were able to reduce 10 per cent of the food surplus from being dumped in landfills, thus helping the government reduce the cost of disposing of the food waste.
“The government has to pay RM34 to the solid waste landfill operator for a tonne of food and beverage waste to be disposed of. Therefore, SWCorp Negeri Sembilan advises bazaar visitors to appreciate food and avoid wastage,” she said.
