Seberang Perai Upcycle Park

BASIC CITY DATA

• Population size: 1,062,000

• Population growth rate (%): 1.70

• Surface area (sq.km): 738.00

• Population density (people/sq.km): 1439.00

• GDP per capita (USD): 11,534.00

• GINI index: 0.36

• Main source of prosperity: agriculture, fish farming and fisheries, industry, seaport (container terminal), trade, tourism
  

ABSTRACT

Thanks to the creativity and efforts of MPSP general workers, the “Orange Warriors”, an abandoned area beside Seberang Prai Municipal Council Tower in Bandar Perda, Bukit Mertajam has been turned into an upcycle park. This lakeside park is the first upcycle park in Malaysia with garden landscapes well-decorated with a variety of decorative items made out of trash. This park is divided into a pond (4,456 square meters) and green area (5,228.5 square metres).  The Seberang Perai Upcycle Park will benefit some 20,500 residents living nearby. 

A minimal cost was incurred and the workers took three months to build the park.  The floor plazas are made up of construction wastes while other objects are assembled out of waste products such as used tyres, broken dustbins, containers, cracked flower pots and old bicycles whichturned into benches, tables, toy bikes, playground attractions and even art. Many residents are flocking into the park to carry out various activities such as jogging, walking, picnicking as well as fishing in the pond.  People are inspired by the creativity and hopefully will create awareness towards environmental conservation.

This park was officiated by Penang Chief Minister on 10th March 2018.  MPSP received the Silver Award for the successful establishment of Upcycle Park and has received trophies and certificates at the 2018 Central Region Mini Cooperation Excellence Convention by the Malaysian Productivity Corporation on April 24, 2018. This Upcycle Park developed by MPSP has found its way into the Malaysia Book of Records on 28 July 2018.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION 

The establishment of Upcycle Park is linked to:

•  Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 11): Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The MPSP Seberang Perai Strategic Priority 2018 – 2022 focuses on reducing wastes to Pulau Burung Disposal Site by 50% and achieve 70% recycling rate by the year 2022.

• The Penang Government’s Waste Seggregation At Source Policy that was initiated on 1st June 2016 that requires all premises to separate wastes into two different categories, dried recycle wastes and organic wastes.    

ORIGINS

The Upcycle Park was converted from on an abandoned area which was not well-maintained into a park that provides public access and recreation to approximately 20,500 people staying nearby.  It is also aligned to the needs of Seberang Perai Municipal Council towards becoming the Low Carbon City. The upcycle products that were produced and placed in the park has reduced the cost of solid waste disposal that seems to be increasing due to the additions in waste per capita in Seberang Perai besides are able to provide education and awareness on upcycle activities to the local communities. 

With the main goal to achieve the Low Carbon City status by 2022, the upcycle park was established with these objectives:

1. Provide community facilities for recreational activities and picnicking.

2. Create more public awareness on the importance of recycling and being exposed to the creativity of upcycling.

3. Reduce environmental pollution as well as maintaining the ecological balance of ecosystem.

Reduce solid waste management costs by reducing wastes to the disposal site and expanding the life span of the Pulau Burung Disposal Site.

Partnership includes

1. MPSP workers, the Orange Warriors used their ideas, innovation, creativity as well as hard work to create and establish the upcycle park.

2. Private. MPSP received financial support and assistance from private companies that are interested in the upcycle park project as part of Corporate Social Responsibility.

3. Community. The engagement of nearby residents by receiving useful inputs to provide a park that suits    their taste, helps in making this project a success.    
   

The Upcycle Park was developed through in-house process using MPSP workforce, the Orange Warriors. A minimal cost was incurred in producing the upcycle items because only second hand and waste items were used. The process of making the upcycle products are based on the invention, creativity and efforts of the Orange Warriors.  The total cost to develop the whole park was RM12,000.00 and the work in the park was completed in three months.  Donations were also given by a private company and MPSP Councillors.

INNOVATIVE ASPECTS

The development of Upcycle Park is Evolutionary as the park was transformed from an idle retention pond into to a recreational and leisure park.

However, by decorating the park with upcycle products all over the park, makes it Revolutionary as it is a newly introduced concept.  

This innovation will be adapted in the Seberang Perai Municipal Council Strategic Priority next year to implemet the greener development and cleaner environment by developing more upcycle parks in Seberang Perai. The Upcycle Park project will be an example to the other local authoritis in Malaysia as few local authourities such as Shah Alam City Council has shown interest and visited the park.    

Challenges in the development of Upcycle Park:

1. Financial Allocation. 

   Allocation for the development of this park are technically zero. However, MPSP has used the allocated financial budget with approximate budget of RM12,000 which was used to buy paint, rocks and sand and cement for the purpose of creating the upcycle product and decorations for the park. The total savings of RM153,000.00 compared estimated budget of RM165,000.00 if the park was developed by the private contractor.
   

2. Vandalism activities where irresponsible act by certain party causes harm and damages to the upcycle items and decorations in the park.

   MPSP has to bear huge losses and have to repair and replace these items.  This vandalism act is a crime according to MPSP by-laws, which if was found guilty, will be fined not more than RM2,000.00 or imprisonment for a  period of not more than a year or both. Therefore, MPSP are tightening the security of the the area of the park and are also considering to install the lights to reduce vandalism. 
   

3. Motorbikes entering the park. 

   Individuals are found riding their bikes into the park either on the grass or on the pedestrian walk which resulted in causing disturbances to the visitors as well as damaging the landscape of the park. Hence, barriers and signboard were put up at few locations to prevent motorbikes entering the park.

DESIRED CHANGE OR OUTCOME

The initiative hopes to avhieve the following objectives:

1. Public facilities for recreational and leisure purpose for nearby residents of Bandar Perda as there are no other recreational parks nearby.Even the Seberang Perai Municipal Council staffs carry out weekly exercise and health programmes in this park.
   

2. Increase in the amount of visitors in time.  The development of the park has attracted not just the nearby residents but also the outsiders. The visitors to the park have been increasing every day and received an enormous support. On weekdays, visitors increased from 5 to 50 peopleand during weekends visitors has been rapidly increasing from 15 to 150 people.

   
   

3. Public education and awareness on upcycle activities.  The products which are produced from the used items has indirectly educates and creates awareness to the public especially the children in creating more creative products in near future.

4.  

5. IV. Reducing wastes to dumping site with the creation of upcycle products.  The upcycle products from used items such as car and motorcycle tyres, pallet wood, bottles and many more has reduced the amount of wastes being sent to dumping site. Therefore, Seberang Perai Municipal Council’s vision to reduce waste by 50% in Seberang Perai by 2022 can be achieved indirectly.

6.  

7. V.  Improving the environmental quality in Bandar Perda area. The environmental quality of the surrounding area of Bandar Perda which is rapidly developing can be preserved with the existence of upcycle park. 

8.  

9. VI. Fulfilling the expectation of locals to achieve a better quality in life. The establishment of upcycle park has inculcate a healthy lifestyle to the locals and increase the activities with family and friends. Thus, this park has achieved the expectation of the residents in Bandar Perda for which its aim is to strive for a better lifestyle.

10.  

11. VII.Improving the image of Seberang Perai Municipal Council. Seberang Perai Municipal Council efforts in developing this park with the concept of upcycling has brought up the image of Seberang Perai Municipal Council in Seberang Perai as well as at the national level. This park was built with a minimal cost which is able to save cost approximately RM3 million people’s money. The workforce consist onlyof people who works for Seberang Perai Municipal Council only and does not involve the outsiders at any cost.      

Methods Applied 

Used the creativity and efforts of MPSP general workers, the “Orange Warriors”, to turn an abandon area into an upcycle park. This lakeside park is decorated with a variety of items made out of trash. 

A minimal cost was incurred and the workers took three months to build the park.  The floor plazas are made up of construction wastes while other objects are assembled out of waste products such as used tyres, broken dustbins, containers, cracked flower pots and old bicycles which turned into benches, tables, toy bikes, playground attractions and even art.       

Benefits to Other Cities 

This park is the only park in Malaysia that owns the concept of upcycle. This park which is filled with upcycle products created out of used items has provided education and awareness to the visitors in the importance of reducing waste sent to the dumping site. On top of that, this park provides jogging tracks and recreational area for the residents. Used items that are turned into upcycle products has contributed in reducing waste per capita at the dumping site and the cost. This park is a bench mark for other local authorities to emulate this upcycle park concept due to its uniqueness and its benefits to the public.