Healthier and Greener Malaysia? 4 Zero-waste Communities You Should Join

It’s no secret that waste management is a serious problem in Malaysia. The country generated 38, 142 tonnes in 2018, according to a 2019 study by the Khazanah Research Institute. This amount of waste can fill up the Petronas Twin Towers every week!

If you are interested in living a more sustainable and waste-free lifestyle, Malaysia is home to several zero-waste communities that you are welcome to join, especially if you’re not sure where to start. Check them out!

Zero Waste Malaysia (ZWM)

With the goal to make a difference through individual actions, Zero Waste Malaysia is one of the leading community groups in Kuala Lumpur with more than 40,000 members who have committed to the zero-waste mission of building a greener and more sustainable future for the country.

This zero-waste community in Malaysia launched the "first zero waste resource map in Asia” where individuals can access zero-waste places near them. Moreover, ZWM has introduced a multilingual Trash Encyclopedia to assist Malaysia’s diverse community in determining what to recycle or which bin each trash goes into. 

The organisation also provided a handbook for living a zero-waste life, fostering a zero-waste office culture, and hosting a zero- or less-waste event. 

You may join the ZWM’s campaign via this link.

Conzerve

Conzerve is an environmental platform and a zero-waste bulk store at the same time. As a zero-waste advocate, they offer workshops for recycling and upcycling glass bottles, organic tempeh, permaculture, cloth pads sewing, and more. They also have a “fruterie” section where consumers can get weekly fruits or vegetables delivered to their homes via WhatsApp catalogue.

As of this writing, the organisation is on hiatus but while waiting for them to resume operations, you may visit their Facebook page to get the latest updates.

Location: Conzerve, Jalan Bazar U8/99, Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam

Trash Hero

Clean, educate, change – these are the three tenets of Trash Hero in making zero waste a reality. They bring communities together to clean up and reduce waste through activities aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

This zero-waste community in Malaysia, originally based in Switzerland, is responsible for oganising weekly cleanups, bottle refill programmes, hands-on experiential learning for kids, and training volunteers to become zero-waste ambassadors. If you want to become a Trash Hero too, you may join by filling up this application form.

SESO Malaysia

SESO Malaysia (Save Environment, Save Ourselves) is a zero-waste community that focuses on reducing food waste and food poverty. What they do is build communities, especially for those suffering from social isolation by providing communal meals.

They partner with local businesses to develop various projects and campaigns in a bid to raise awareness by offering food at special prices, foster food waste reduction, and increase sustainability. In return, residents of Malaysia can save more money and the environment at once. Their programmes include weekly food distribution and delivering “boxes of kindness” for only RM60 each.

To feed more people in Malaysia, SESO continues to reach out to supermarkets, grocery stores, restaurants, shops, charities, and community groups to join their advocacy. To become a volunteer or sponsor, visit their website.