Pulau Ketam WOW Project

Wipe Out Waste (WOW) Project has started since 2015 in Pulau Ketam, and there are a range of programmes have been carried out, for example, Wipe Out Waste Programme – our annual programme, Nature Guide programme, and many environmental awareness activities. We will continue to conduct more environmental education and awareness programmes to reach out to more local villagers as well as public regarding waste management issues in Malaysia, especially in Pulau Ketam.

Pulau Ketam is a small island located off the coast of Port Klang, Selangor and was founded circa 1880. The island is easily accessible from Port Klang jetty by ferry. On the island are ‘floating houses’, perched on wooden stilts 1 to 10 metres above sea level.

Pulau Ketam is one of those sleepy little Malaysian islands whose inhabitants enjoy the simplicity inherent to most island communities. At first glance the ramshackle waterfront township appears to be standing on its very last stilts as the paint slowly peels under the tropical sun and time lapses by. A township renown for fresh seafood, especially its namesake crab (ketam). The island’s villages of Kampung Pulau Ketam and Kampung Sungai Lima primarily derive their living from the sea as well as tourism.

However, management of solid waste is of growing concern to the local authorities, local communities, tourists and business communities in Pulau Ketam.

The problem is exacerbating in Pulau Ketam due to lack of public awareness, training, insufficient funds and improper infrastructure have resulted in a poor state of solid waste management.

Accumulation of solid waste in open areas is an eyeshore, diminishing ecotourism value, a breeding ground for insects and other vectors (rat and mice and as well as humans who may come in contact with contaminated wastes). It also causes odour nuisance, reflects the unorganized nature of the community and creates a poor environment for growing children and tourists.

Improper and unorganized disposal of solid waste in open areas and into the sea have a negative impact on the living conditions of human being as well as the overall environment. It results in spread of communicable and non-communicable diseases among human being and animals, thus affecting the livelihood, economic productivity and eco-tourism activities. In addition, it causes contamination of surface water, ground water and generation of toxic and green-house gases. However, using adequate information, resources and efficient management practices, one can turn solid waste into useful resources.

And these are the reasons why we initiate WOW project in Pulau Ketam with the project aim and objectives stated below, that we are struggling to achieve.

Definition of Solid Waste Management

Solid waste management is an organized process of storage, collection, transportation, processing and disposal of solid refuse residuals in an engineered sanitary landfill. It is an integrated process comprising several collection methods, varied transportation equipment storage, recovery mechanisms for recyclable material, reduction of waste volume and quantity by methods such as composting and disposal in a designated engineered sanitary landfill.

The selection of a suitable solid waste management process driven by the source and quality of waste produced. Solid waste is generated from a number of sources which include households (kitchen and yards), commercial areas (shops, restaurants and hotels), institutions (schools, hospitals and offices), construction and demolition sites, parks (fallen branches and leaves from the trees) and streets (sand, concrete and bricks).