KUCHING: Swinburne Sarawak students visited the facilities of two firms for an insight into how used tyres can contribute to various type of environmental hazards and how pollution has been prevented through the two firm’s programme.
The 42 students, accompanied by four faculty lecturers, were briefed on the various stages of the recycling process and how the used tyres were turned into new products.
The environmental awareness industrial visit was organised in conjunction with the inaugural Swinburne Sarawak’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Week 2022 and was hosted by ZHA Environmental Sdn Bhd (ZHA) and Sar-Alam Indah Sdn Bhd (SAI).
ZHA Environmental director Bernard Yong said upcycling of used rubber tyres not only creates a circular economy but also cuts down the amount of waste going into landfills, reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and reduces carbon footprint to the environment.
(A circular economy is one which reuses, repairs, refurbishes and recycles existing materials and products as long as possible.)
“It ensures that the lifespan of this material is extended while reducing the need for production of new or raw materials, thus decreasing the amount of air pollution and greenhouse gases.
“The Sarawak government has taken a visionary step to implement this programme and we need everyone including the younger generation to ensure its continuity.
“We hope that through this industrial visit, they are able to gain knowledge and appreciation on the amount of time and efforts needed to take care of the environment and be part of the solution for world environmental sustainability,” he said.
Upon completing the factory tour around noon time at ZHA, the students were escorted next door to the Matang Septic Sludge Treatment Plant (SSTP).
During the second visit, they were given a tour to get a close-up view of the treatment system right from the delivery of the septic sludge by tankers for various councils, to the separation of sludge sediments from the wastewater and finally, the treatment of wastewater.
Additionally, the students were shown how SAI conducts tests on the treated wastewater before discharging it to the nearby river.
Sar-Alam Indah Sdn Bhd Hilton Law executive director said the effluent quality from the Matang SSTP has consistently achieved Standard A under the Environmental Quality (Sewage) Regulations 2009 despite only being required to achieve standard B.
“I would like to remind the general public again that it is a legal requirement for your septic tanks to be desludged as per the by-laws.
“We ought to utilise the service for the sake of our public health and the environment we live in,” he added.
