I reduce. I reuse. I recycle. I know how to make it easier for you to do the same. I am a person who follows the 3 'R's, and in the order that they are listed (Reduce, Reuse, then Recycle). This means I try to reduce first, then if I fail to reduce, I will reuse. If I cannot reuse, I will try my best to recycle.

I do my best to encourage those around me to do the same. I also try to get my neighbours to recycle, but what can I say, it is just so easy to throw things away in our society. We have developed an attitude that encourages more waste and more wastage. We are regularly encouraged to throw things away, and I dont just mean in garbage cans. Street corners, parks, and monsoon drains are all fair places to throw things into in Malayisa.

Yes, recycling is not easy, especially in Malaysia. Though the Ministry of Housing and Local Government is doing their part to encourage waste reduction and recycling, a lot more has to be done. Of course, the first step starts at home. People need to put in the effort and think a lot more about the decisions they make, and the outcome of those decisions for our environment. Taking boxes or resusable bags to the supermarket, and not purchasing items that have too much packaging are great steps towards reducing waste. Plastic bags and many other items can be reused, which is a positive thing.

It is in recycling that all Malaysians can join together and take big steps forward. But right now, recycling in Malaysia just isn't that easy. You have to separate your waste, and you have to go to the recycling centre. That is assuming that there is one nearby. For many in Malaysia, recycling is a hassle, or just not possible.

Right now, many of us recycle paper, especially old newspapers. The reason is simple - recycling paper is part of a Malaysian tradition. The arrival of the recycling trucks in your neighbourhood, with the loudspeakers repeating the call for old newspapers over and over again, tells you that the weekend has arrived.

But, many Malaysians do not recycle plastic bottles, cans, glass bottles, etc. Perhaps the simple reason is the inconvenience. Also, perhaps it is because there is no truck coming around to collect these recyclables.

The colours designated for recycling bins are clear and recognisable. Orange is for plastic and aluminum, blue for paper, and brown for glass. And right now, you can find blue and orange plastic bags at most of your local shops and hypermarkets. Plastic boxes are available in various colours.

So, here is an idea. The Ministry of Housing and Local Government should sit down with local plastic manufacturers, and have them create recycling boxes and recycling bags, in the three colours of the recycling bins. These boxes and bags would prominently display the international '3-Arrows' symbol for recycling, words in English and Bahasa Malaysia and pictures of the recyclable items.

By making these bags and bins available in stores, Malaysians will be able to purchase them and take them home and start separating their throwaway items.

Once this happens, the entrepreneurial spirit of Malaysians will play its role. The paper recycling trucks will quickly be complemented by recycling trucks collecting metal, plastic and glass items. Soon, Malaysians will be able to recycle with a lot less effort than before.

As recycling spreads within Malaysian society, more efforts can be made by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to take further steps in waste management. Malaysians could be encouraged to compost (green bag/box), and separate coloured glass (brown bag/box) from clear glass (white bag/box). Biodegradable plastic bags, made of natural materials, could be used to replace plastic bags. Finally, the government could make it a goal to place a recycling centre in each and every section, town and village throughout Malaysia.

I encourage the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to consider these ideas and take steps to implement them. I look forward to seeing the coloured recycling bags and recycling bins in the stores and hypermarkets soon. In the meantime, I would like to encourage all Malaysians to start using blue and orange plastic bags and bins, at home and at work, and start separating their waste today.