KUANTAN, April 8 — After breaking their Ramadan quick exterior a mosque in Malaysia, folks throw their leftovers into a machine that converts the food scraps into natural fertiliser for crops.
The modest authorities initiative within the central state of Pahang goals to cut back wastage, particularly throughout the Muslim holy month when enormous quantities of food are thrown away every day.
The cellular machine has been deployed at a park within the coronary heart of state capital Kuantan throughout Ramadan the place many households collect each night to feast on low cost native dishes after a day of fasting.
It processes 25 kilograms (55 kilos) of scraps a day, stated Sharudin Hamid, the state director of Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation, which began the pilot mission final yr.
The quantity is a tiny fraction of the greater than 13,000 tonnes of food despatched to landfills across the Muslim-majority nation every single day, much more throughout Ramadan, however Sharudin stated it was serving to to extend consciousness about food wastage.
“The important goal is to make sure that the waste shouldn’t be despatched to landfills,” Sharudin advised eNM.
“This has had a big impression on us, as individuals are changing into extra conscious of environmental conservation, particularly by way of food waste discount.”
Food scraps are thrown into the machine the place they’re slowly combined with rice husks and sawdust for 48 hours.
This image taken on April 3, 2024 reveals a member of the Pahang Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation displaying natural fertiliser processed by a composting machine in Kuantan. — eNM pic
The brownish-coloured waste is then packaged and given to farmers to make use of as fertiliser on their crops.
“Things that develop from that fertiliser may change into food, which once more will be composted into fertiliser. So there’s a pure cycle,” stated Abdul Shukor Mohamad Salleh, 27, as he purchased native delicacies at a Ramadan food market in Kuantan, considered one of many throughout the nation.
On her small plot close to town, Zulyna Mohamed Nordin, 53, sprays natural liquid fertiliser derived from the recycled food waste on her vegetable, banana and pineapple crops.
This image taken on April 3, 2024 reveals a packet of natural fertiliser after being processed by a composting machine in Kuantan. — eNM pic
She receives 30 kilograms of the fertiliser each month and barely extra throughout Ramadan.
“I’ve carried out away from utilizing costly chemical inputs since June final yr. This is pure, natural, and boosts productiveness,” Zulyna advised eNM.
“My leafy greens are greater and greener.” — eNM
