NILAI, April 6 (Bernama) -- About 461.71 kilogrammes of excess food and 733 kg of excess drinks were saved from being discarded at the landfills last year through the Value Food No Waste programme organised by the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp), Negeri Sembilan.

Its director, Siti Yusnita Mohamad Yusof said as a result of cooperation from Pertubuhan Pemuda Gema Negeri Sembilan and traders, the excess or unsold food at the bazaars but still could be eaten were distributed to the needy.

She said that in conjunction with Ramadan this time, the three bazaars involved in the programme were the Lotus Nilai, Taman Semarak and Bandar Baru Nilai bazaars.

“Based on the statistics last year, we found that about 4,086 tonnes of surplus food were wasted in this country with most of it could still be eaten. On overage, each family in this country had wasted 500 to 800 grammes of uneaten food.

“Through this campaign, we will gather the unsold food and drinks which can still be consumed to be distributed to residents living around the bazaars or to those in need,” she told reporters after officiating at the MySaveFood: Value Food No Waste@Bazar Ramadan 2022 Campaign programme held at the Nilai Ramadan Bazaar.

She said that through the campaign last year, SWCorp could reduce 10 per cent of the excess food from being discarded at the landfill, thus helping the government reduce the disposal cost of the food waste.

“The government has to pay RM34 to the landfill operator for the disposal of each tonne of wasted food and drinks. Hence SWCorp, Negeri Sembilan urges that the Ramadan bazaar visitors value the food on sale and avoid wastage,” she added.

--  BERNAMA