Recyling Liquid Bottle/Container

26th December 2008
Recycle. What is the meaning of this word? Well, basically it means its a method that involves processing used materials into new products in order to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling) by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production.

I bet most of you guys know this but then again do you guys really go and help out in the effort of reducing waste in the environment? In actual fact, we have been informed and trained since we are kids, to recycle all recyclable things like bottles, papers, plastics, steel, and card board to name a few. I believe, I've see a lot of government effort on this campaign has gone to waste as many of us still 'not educated properly' on this matter and thus, we still able to see a lot of recycle items being littered every where in our country. I can't totally blame us all in handing out to our Mother Nature the death note but then again, it seems we did not do enough to protect her either.

I think its time for us to ponder again on this matter and this time, we need to think how to make the campaign a successful one. Campaign from one state to another, we all know already, its not working well in Malaysia because of our ignorant attitude, so i would think we need to come out with a drastic measure to save our environment before it engulf us all in the end. Although this method is not new to us, but i think it should be executed at once and when i say at once, i mean now...
After coming back from Europe for a business trip, i notice that their country does not has this problem as us and you know why, they have an excellent way of recycling their bottles, be it plastic or glass.

How do they do it then, which i might think could work in our country?

Simple, pay them when they recycle. Malaysian are money minded people and in this way, they will definately recycle back their item because if they don't, some one else will. Simple?....... well, there is a catch...... who is going to pay you the money then? The factory who recycle these items?......Neh.......i don't think they will because this will definately reduce their income....... So, how do we get paid then?....... Easy again....... force the consumers to pay more when buying these things and only pay them back when they recycle it. Its like deposit. You put in money for something that you know you will get back then you return it. When i was in Germany for one month, i notice that they have this kind of system which pass this recycle items cost to the consumers.......but its not like you are paying something for the things to be recycle but instead, just an amount that to guaranty you, as consumer, would hand back the recycle item and if not, you are at the losing end. Something like that. All the government or any private sectors need to do it to prepare the big and bulky machine that is needed for consumers to pass back the recycle item. That's all to it actually.

For example, for a water bottle that cost RM1.00 in which the water inside is priced at RM0.80, we can actually sell the water bottle at the price of RM1.50 in which, the RM0.70 it the price for the empty bottle and when user finish consuming the water, assuming he/she does not eat the bottle itself, they can actually return it to a vending machine that handles these things and get back the RM0.70 for each bottle they return, depending on the price of the deposit actually which could varies. Simple?.........i really think so.....for me that is. Then again, i know, somewhere out there, there will be people who oppose to it.........If you oppose to it, then come out with a solid reason not to safe the Mother Nature then.

I would see only a couple of disadvantages on this campaign and they are:

1) The cost needed to put all these bulky machines every where in this country. We need a lot of this machine as recycle is everyone's task. 27 million of us.
My defense: This is a long term investment. Since the government could spent million on this kind of campaign, why not spend another few millions on these machine as this would definitely helps in the long run. Bear in mind that this machine does not only cater bottles, it can also accept cans or any other recyclable items. If its too costly, then don't buy the machines, hire a person and stand there all that long and wait for customer to give back their water bottles and if they found out that this way is working, the just invest into the machines then. Eh.....i just created job opportunity for people with this idea..... he he he.



2) The cost burden would be felt by the poor as they would need to pay more for the water now.
My defense: Well, the poor usually don't buy this kinda of water bottle. They would prefer to cook it themselves right?.

3) Err.....err..............anymore excuse?........I can't think of any.....maybe my brain stops about giving out more excuses ...........

Give me your view then, to whether this kinda of way of making people recycle is a bad things or its a good thing? Let us debate......... and since i want to make this thing a success, its not a waste for me to change your mind now.

Help Mother Nature, help to recycle.