KUCHING: The Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) has launched a recycling programme in collaboration with three Methodist churches in Padawan to strengthen environmental awareness, encourage sustainable practices and boost community participation in waste management efforts.
The initiative, launched at Zhu En Methodist Church in Batu Kawah on Thursday, marks MPP’s first partnership with faith-based organisations in promoting environmental sustainability and responsible waste management within the municipality.
Under the programme, Zhu En Methodist Church, Sungai Maong Methodist Church and Siong Tau Methodist Church will serve as community recycling collection points while also advocating environmental stewardship among their congregations and surrounding communities.
MPP chairman Tan Kai, who officiated at the launch said environmental protection is a shared responsibility that requires active participation from all sectors of society, including religious institutions.
He said houses of worship play an important role in shaping values and influencing positive behavioural change within communities.
“This programme is about cultivating a culture of environmental responsibility and encouraging our communities to embrace the principles of 5R – Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle.
“Through collective action, we can reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and create a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable Padawan for future generations,” he said in a statement.
Tan added that houses of worship can serve as exemplary community leaders in promoting sustainable lifestyles and environmental stewardship.
As part of the initiative, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed and exchanged between MPP and the three participating churches.
Under the agreement, MPP has provided three recycling bins to each church, while the churches will coordinate recycling collection activities and submit monthly recycling data to the council for monitoring and evaluation.
The programme is aligned with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
MPP hopes the initiative will serve as a model for future collaborations with other houses of worship, including suraus, temples and other faith-based organisations, to further strengthen community participation in environmental conservation efforts.
The council said the programme reflects its ongoing commitment to building a sustainable, inclusive and liveable municipality through strong community partnerships and collective environmental action.
