SWM/Trienekens and UNIMAS Combines Expertise to Carry Out Solid Waste Study
Wednesday, 30/04/2008, Kuching
GOOD SYNERGY: Mr. Gerhard Aulbert, Director of SWM and Trienekens making his speech at the ceremony.
Sarawak Wastes Management (SWM) Sdn. Bhd., Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn. Bhd and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) today signed a memorandum of understanding, cementing a trilateral collaboration to carry out joint research projects particularly involving waste characterization studies in major towns of Sarawak.
The signing ceremony held at UNIMAS campus was graced and witnessed by the State Minister of Environment and Public Health, YB Datuk Michael Manyin anak Jawong. Representing the three organisations were UNIMAS Vice Chancellor, Professor Dr. Khairuddin Abdul Hamid, SWM Director And Trienekens Managing Director, Mr. Gerhard Aulbert.
The objective of these studies is to determine the characteristics of municipal solid wastes in major cities and townships such as Kuching, Miri, Sibu and Bintulu covering various subjects as wastes types, compositions and quantities, including correlations between social demographic data and wastes types, local authorities on wastes logistics, current regulatory instruments as well as waste disposal.
The research project is an initiative funded by Sarawak Wastes Management (SWM) Sdn. Bhd., the State Government-arm and concessionaire of the Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWMS) and its operating company, Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn. Bhd. to develop a database that can provide information on current waste characteristics on household and commercial waste streams in urban and semi-urban areas throughout the state.
PARTNERSHIP: The signing of memorandum in progress. Present to witness is YB Datu Michael Manyin ak Jawong, State Minister of Environment and Public Health.
“There is a need to develop these databases to determine a reliable and relevant wastes compositions data parallel to the current economic and social developments in the state,” explained Mr. Gerhard Aulbert, SWM Director and also Trienekens’ Managing Director. “Similar study was done in 2000 under the Sustainable Urban Development Studies (SUD) by the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) and DANIDA. The figures may have evolved since then as population has increased whilst the quality of living improved and environmental awareness is on the rise amongst the community.”
The database project is instrumental and essential for business entities involving in environmental and waste management such as SWM and Trienekens as licensee and operators of the Integrated Solid Waste Management System in
Sarawak in order for them to strengthen their future efforts of improving and developing new methods and solutions in compliance with local and international regulatory as well as industry standards.
EXCHANGE OF EXPERTISE: YB Datuk Michael Manyin witnessing the exchange of documents between SWM/Trienekens' Mr. Gerhard Aulbert and UNIMAS Acting Vice Chancellor, Y Bhg Professor Dr. Khairuddin Abd Hamid.
“Partnering UNIMAS is an ideal step and great opportunity for the company given the university’s established experience in carrying out scientific research in waste and environmental management,” added Mr. Aulbert. “It is also our long term plans to extend similar research collaborations with UNIMAS in the near future as such opportunities are abound.”
For UNIMAS, whose main expertise include research, development and innovation, collaborations with private industries such as with Trienekens is considered timely and is line with the National Higher Education Strategic Plan which calls for intensification of human capital, improving professionalism among academia and discovering new knowledge and innovations through closer ties with industries.
The joint research project will come under the wings of UNIMAS’ Research Innovation and Management Centre. Aside from UNIMAS, another project partner is NREB, an environmental regulatory and monitoring agency representing the State Government. Included in the MOU agreement as well is a social survey aimed at measuring public perception of services provided under the ISWMS.
The two-year project entails the development of methodology and database, data analysis and report preparations. Possible methods include waste studies at points of generations, weight analysis, areas of origin, wastes at disposal sites and landfills.
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For further information, please contact:
Ms. Janet J Balong
Public Relations Department
Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn. Bhd.
Tel: 082-610 700 Fax : 082-620120
Email: janet.balong@trienekens.com.my
