Yap Jing Zong, an alumnus of the Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering with Honours programme, is tackling urban food waste with his innovative Urban Recycling Ecosystem (URE). As the founder of 4LEAF Nursery & Landscape Services in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, Jing Zong has created a community-driven initiative that focuses on sustainable waste management and urban farming. URE's vision is to establish a hub in every urban community, transforming food waste from a problem into a valuable local asset. Through its tagline, "TRASH + URE = TRASHURE," the project highlights the transformative potential of waste when managed through sustainable, community-based frameworks. It serves as a replicable model for urban development and contributes to Malaysia's environmental and economic goals.
The URE's core is the BioBin, a proprietary, electricity-free composting system that transforms food waste into usable compost in just one week without any odour. The process involves collecting organic waste from local restaurants, markets, and healthcare facilities. This waste is then converted into compost, which is used to grow vegetables and ornamental plants. These plants are distributed back to the same network of contributors, creating a closed-loop, sustainable supply chain.
“Engineers always talk about efficiency and effectiveness. With my mechatronics engineering background, I studied in detail about composting, finding out all the composting factors and seeing how to optimise every factor to make sure the composting process is fast and safe. On that note, I am grateful to TAR UMT for not only providing me a solid foundation in engineering but also providing mentorship support and guidance for me to establish my entrepreneurial venture,” Jing Zong detailed.
The project has made a significant impact, recycling over 70 tonnes of food waste and generating more than RM54,000 in revenue from compost and plant sales. URE has also been featured in various media outlets, and Jing Zong was invited to speak at TEDx Petaling Street. The initiative has also gained recognition and support from WWF Malaysia and the European Union Youth Empowerment Fund.
