Did you know you could get rewarded for recycling your plastic waste?

Instead of tossing recyclable plastic bottles and containers straight into the rubbish bin, Malaysians can use several recycling platforms that reward users for collecting and recycling eligible materials.

Depending on the platform, you could receive points, e-wallet credits, vouchers or other rewards.

Here's how it works and the platforms you can check out.

How Do You Get Rewarded?

The process differs depending on the recycling platform.

Your recyclables may be weighed, counted, scanned, or collected before the applicable rewards are credited to your account.

Rewards can include:

Cash or bank transfers

E-wallet credits

Redeemable points

Shopping vouchers

1. KITARecycle

Available in Johor, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan, KITARecycle by SWM Environment rewards users with Recycling Points based on eligible materials they recycle.

These points can then be redeemed for available rewards through the programme.

How it works:

Register for KITARecycle.

Separate your accepted recyclable materials.

Bring them to a participating collection point or programme.

Earn Recycling Points based on eligible materials collected.

Redeem your points for available rewards.

2. Riiicycle

Riiicycle allows users in Klang Valley and Penang to deposit eligible recyclables at participating recycling facilities and Smart Collection Machines.

The platform provides rewards for eligible materials recycled through its participating collection points.

How it works:

Find a participating recycling point or Smart Collection Machine.

Separate and bring your accepted recyclables.

Deposit them according to the instructions provided.

Receive the applicable rewards through the platform.

3. Recircle

If the thought of carrying bags of recyclables to a recycling centre sounds like a hassle, Recircle offers doorstep collection for eligible recyclables in parts of Klang Valley and Penang.

This means you can schedule a collection instead of necessarily making a trip to a recycling facility.

How it works:

Sort your recyclable materials.

Book a collection through Recircle.

Have your eligible recyclables collected.

Receive rewards based on the materials collected and the programme's applicable rates.

What Types Of Plastic Can You Recycle?

Not every plastic item belongs in the recycling stream.

The easiest way to identify some common types of plastic is to check the recycling code, which is usually printed on the bottom of the container.

Two commonly encountered types include:

PET or PETE - Code 1

Often used for mineral water bottles, soft drink bottles, and other beverage containers.

HDPE - Code 2

Commonly found in detergent bottles, shampoo bottles and other household product containers.

However, acceptance can vary between recycling programmes, so always check the specific platform's guidelines before sending anything for recycling.

How To Prepare Your Plastics

Don't simply throw a pile of dirty containers into your recycling bag.

Before sending them off:

Empty and rinse the containers.

Let them dry completely.

Remove food and liquid residue.

Separate materials according to type.

Follow the programme's instructions on bottle caps and labels.

Flatten or crush bottles only if the collection programme allows it.

Proper preparation can make the recycling process easier and help ensure your materials meet the programme's requirements.

The Bottom Line

Before throwing your next plastic bottle into the rubbish bin, check whether there's a recycling programme available in your area that accepts it.

You might only earn a small amount from individual items, but if you're already going to recycle them, getting something back in return is an added bonus.

You won't get rich from recycling plastic, but you can clear out your recyclables, earn some rewards, and help keep waste out of landfills at the same time.

Just remember to check each platform's latest accepted materials, collection locations, and reward rates, as these can change over time.