What does No Trash November mean? Does it mean that the island is finally all clear of trash and that the waste management issue is all gone?
Not quite.
No Trash November simply points to the fact that the trash that has been collected has been shipped off away from the island this month! This is the current solution for the lack of a proper waste management system on the island. The alternative i.e. having no waste management system/programme means all this trash will end up in the ocean.
From January until November 2022, a whopping 54,193kg of trash has been shipped off of Mantanani island to the landfill and recycling centre on the mainland. That's 54,193kg of food waste, plastic waste, plastic bottles, glass, tin and other trash saved from polluting the ocean!
With your help, locals can take matters into their own hands and handle the waste management issue of their beloved island. Locals can also earn an income from the waste management programme and educate themselves on the marine pollution issue and the recycling system.
With your help, the islanders' trash can be properly shipped off away from the island and processed and recycled in a proper facility.
You are making a difference in the lives and environment of the islanders.
You are saving the ocean, one boat of trash at a time.
We thank you and we hope for a continuous partnership between you, us and the islanders for the betterment of our ocean.
Mantanani Island is a beautiful island with white sandy beaches. However, the island is facing a big issue - there is no proper waste management system.
Realizing this, we at Reef Check Malaysia have taken it upon ourselves to ensure that something is done to solve this problem. Hence, the waste management programme was born. The waste management programme has been around for a while now but has it achieved what it set out to achieve or is it just another shot in the dark?
We asked some of the villagers and here's what they have to say.
“I am grateful for the existence of this waste management programme. Because of it, I am able to be employed. Due to the pandemic, my husband lost his job. This programme has helped us to survive."
"On top of that, we, the villagers, are able to enjoy a clean island as opposed to the uncontrollable trash situation before. Previously, the villagers were littering freely. They were throwing trash such as chips packaging, plastic bottles and food packaging into the ocean."
"My hope is that one day, all the villagers will wholeheartedly support programmes of this kind and realize the importance of keeping the island clean in order for it to flourish. I also hope that the programme will continue as I believe that it really helps the island to stay clean and provide a source of income for the villagers.” - Rasimah
Another villager, Normala also thanked you, our supporters and donors!
“I am truly grateful and would like to thank all the donors and Reef Check Malaysia. Because of this waste management programme, I am able to work and pay for my children’s education."
"We had an unstable income as my husband could not work due to several factors. I rely solely on my current income. I am actively involved in all the programmes that Reef Check Malaysia has organized as I would like to increase my knowledge. I, as an islander, feel truly lucky that the Reef Check Malaysia organization not only helps us keep the island clean but also gives us the opportunity to learn new things and gain experience. It is truly a priceless experience for me."
"Although I am disappointed that some villagers have yet to see the true value of this programme, I hope Reef Check Malaysia will continue their efforts and continue helping us.”
We are elated to know that the programme is helping to improve the lives of the community. And this is only possible with your help and generous donations. Together, we can make a difference.
Reef Check Malaysia coordinates the nationwide The International Coastal Clean-up (ICC)Day for Malaysia every year. This year, the Mantanani Island community did not hesitate to join in.
The community was present, bright and early - earlier than the time set for the meet-up before the clean-up starts, clad in the last ICC's shirt. 20 adult villagers joined and 6 children - the future generations of the Mantanani Island, showed up for their beautiful island. The villagers worked hand in hand to clean up the area that they have chosen.
At the end of the clean-up, they found that the most types of trash collected were plastic bottles and food wrappers.
It is always the change in behaviour to taking their own initiative to do it that we strive for. We thank the Mantanani Island's community for their support and participation.
We also thank you, our funders and supporters for making things possible.
The team, Cintai Mantanani has been busy and consistent in collecting waste daily from the people in Mantanani Island. As mentioned before, a proper waste management system is not available on the island. What then do we do with the trash?
The trash is collected and sorted according to recyclables and general wastes and will then be shipped off of the island to a landfill on the mainland. However, it is expensive to charter a boat to make this happen. With limited resources, this can only be done once in a few months. A whopping 1351.8kg of plastic waste and 984.1kg of other debris were collected from April- July 2022. These wastes have been successfully shipped off Mantanani Island by the Cintai Mantanani team. These wastes will be sent to the landfill in Kayu Madang.
That's 1351.8kg of plastic waste and 984.1kg of other debris we managed to keep away from polluting the ocean. This also means a cleaner and healthier environment for both the villagers and the environment they live in.
With a $250 donation, you would be funding one boat trip to transfer waste and recyclables away from the beautiful island and to be processed and managed on the mainland. And even a donation of just $10 will drive us forward as it funds one bin for one household.
A huge thank you to the villagers who have been actively involved in the programme and keeping it going. We also thank you, for your generous donations and support. Together, we create and maintain a Mantanani Island free of waste.
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The waste management programme was such a new and foreign concept to the community when we first started. Now, more and more locals have been actively participating in the programme.
To date, more than 170 houses are involved on the island. This ensures 5-6 tons of waste are properly disposed of every month and away from polluting the ocean.
From January to June this year, the waste management team collected and prevented more than 30,000 kg of waste from ending up polluting our fragile marine ecosystem. That is the equivalent of the weight of 150 dolphins. (An average weight of a dolphin is 150-200 kg).
63 households were awarded a certificate for their excellent performance in our waste management program for the year 2021. This initiative was done to recognize their efforts, commitment, and endless support in ensuring waste is properly managed on Mantanani Island. This is a big improvement as in 2020, only 11 households were awarded for their effort. It seems that the locals are greatly familiar with the programme and that it has slowly become a part of their daily routine.
Apart from that, we’ve also successfully organised a Larapan Island Clean-Up Day, attended by 64 participants who collected more than 1,800kg of waste!
There is more to be done and consistency is key. We thank you for your continuous support to help make this impactful programme a success.
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