Klean plans to talk to Asean govts on recycling

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SINGAPORE: Malaysian start-up Klean, which has won the first Asean edition of Pitch@Palace here, plans to talk to Asean governments and government-linked companies on boosting the recycling rates.

In addition, they are also trying to talk to the UK government as the UK is expected to introduce the container deposit scheme towards the end of this year to curb plastic waste.

“Asean countries generally are amongst the largest polluters of plastic in the world and we aim to change that with Klean. Singapore is one of the countries in Asean that are working towards improving its recycling rate,” co-founder Datuk Mohamad Arif Abdullah told Bernama after winning the first spot at the recent Pitch@Palace Asean, an initiative started by The Duke of York.

Klean will proceed to pitch in the finals at Pitch@Palace Global at St. James Palace in London this December.

With their plans to turn waste into money, Klean received the most votes from an invited audience of Chief Executive Officers, Influencers, Angel Investors, Mentors and Business Partners during Pitch@Palace Asean.

Klean’s ecosystem utilises a unique Malaysian-made smart reverse vending machine (RVM) with its own Klean operating system and an app that rewards people for recycling empty polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and aluminium cans with an innovative points scheme which is redeemable for rewards such as air time, discounts for transportation rides, goods and services.

Through its partnership with Hello Gold, users can even redeem their Klean points for gold.

They are aiming to secure US$5 million in funding to allow further research and development and to launch machines across Malaysia and Asean.

“We need governments and government-linked companies to get involved. The container deposit scheme is the only proven solution to rid the plastic problem. According to a study, if nothing is done by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean,” said Mohamad Arif.

Klean’s plan to throw its idea to Singapore is deemed in line with efforts by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and adheres to the United Nations recognition that today, June 8, is World Oceans Day.

In conjunction with World Oceans Day, a total of 20 volunteer divers in Singapore successfully removed over 100kg of trash in an underwater clean-up exercise. Ropes, plastic and glass bottles, and a tyre were among the trash collected by volunteers in waters near Raffles Lighthouse.

The event was organised by the MPA. “Marine pollution not only poses potential hazards to navigational safety but also affects the environment and marine life,” Chief Executive of MPA, Andrew Tan, said in a statement today.

“Keeping our waters clean is a shared responsibility. We can show the world that Singapore can be both a busy port as well as a marine environment rich in biodiversity,” he said.

Besides Singapore and Malaysia, Mohamad Arif said Klean also has received enquiries from Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Australia, South Africa and as far away as Brazil.

“We believe the time is right for us to launch this scheme and save the environment,” he said. — Bernama