Natural Resources and Environment Minister Adenan Satem has urged local councils in the country to emulate the Kuching City South Council (MBKS)'s initiative to set up "buy back" recycling centres in efforts to promote an environment-friendly society.

He said such recycling centres, which focused on the "3R" concept, to save cost, resources and energy, reduce pollution and waste as well as recycle for a clean and better environment, could raise the people's awareness on the environment.

"Hopefully other local councils will follow its recycling programme in efforts to improve the quality of the people's living environment. It is a good start," he told reporters after opening the MBKS Kenyalang Park "Buy Back" centre in Kuching today.

Centres in 26 schools

According to Bernama, MBKS had managed to set up centres in 26 schools under its jurisdiction apart from setting up five "buy back" centres in the city,

Adenan said the need to have such centres was urgent in view of the rising population in urban centres like Kuching, which has a population of about 500,000 at present, due to the increasing volume of wastes generated.

His ministry, he said, was also working closely with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to promote similar programmes among school children, especially in the rural areas.

Meanwhile Sarawak Culture and Urbanisation Assistant Minister Sim Kheng Hui was optimistic that the centres, sited at housing estates and commercial centres, could further minimize littering and illegal dumping by residents.

It would also ensure that their living environment was always clean and healthy, he added.