IN conjunction with the National Environmental Day 2016, Malaysia Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) launched the MRT Environmental Management Campaign on 4 October 2016.

The month long campaign was launched by Datuk Ir. Hamim bin Samuri, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment during the Environmental Management Conference 2016 at the Klang Valley MRT (KVMRT) Training Centre, Sungai Buloh.

The campaign is an initiative by MRT Corp to promote environmental friendly practices at MRT Project construction sites and to create awareness and understanding on electronic waste (e-waste) management and disposal.

In his speech during the launch, Hamim said, “I applaud MRT Corp for taking this step towards making the environment protection a shared responsibility and I hope that this system will soon be applied for all projects in the country.”

The KVMRT Project produces e-waste at several stages of the project, from construction to testing and commission.

At the launch, 12 representatives from local communities along the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line received waste separation bins strictly for the collection and disposal of e-waste.

The six communities present were from Kampung Masjid, Kampung Selamat, Mutiara Damansara, Bandar Utama, Bukit Bandaraya, and Kampung Sungai Jernih.

A prize of RM2,000 awaits the community which manages to collect the largest quantity of correct e-waste.

Upon launching, Hamim then proceeded to visit the booths on display for the conference as well as the MRT Information Truck.

The Environmental Management Conference, meanwhile, was a day long conference which was aimed to educate the MRT Work Package Contractors, MMC-Gamuda KVMRT (PDP SSP) Sdn Bhd as the Project Delivery Partner and representatives from the communities on the conditions and requirements set by the Department of Environment based on the Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment.

The first session of the conference was a talk by Puan Norlin Ja’afar from the Department of Environment (DOE) WP Kuala Lumpur.  She presented on the mainstreaming of the environmental agenda and the environmental officers’ responsibilities.  One of the highlights of the talk was the Guided Self Regulation (GSR) which consist of 8 environmental mainstreaming tools such as formulating environmental policy, establishing committee and record keeping.

“E-Waste Management’ was the topic of the second session, presented by Ms Mandy Chan Hoi Fei of T-Pot Electrical & Electronic Sdn Bhd, an e-waste contractor.  Mandy showcased how her company is working with DOE on the recycling of electrical and electronic waste.

The next session saw a presentation on household e-waste by Puan Salkiah Mohamad Salleh Tan of DOE WP Kuala Lumpur. Explanation was given on what household e-waste entails as well as definitions and examples of such items.

The last speaker of the conference was Encik Fadli Mohd Ismail from the Assessment Division of DOE, HQ, who talked about the understanding of EIA approval conditions. He elaborated on the Environmental Quality Act 1974 as well as the requirements of EIA approvals.

The conference ended with a dialogue and Q&A session by all the presenters.