Richard Ng is giving plastic waste a second life

Richard Ng, a 68-year-old native of Ipoh, finds innovative ways to repurpose plastic waste into useful household items. Where most people would discard coffee sachets, detergent bags, and discarded rice bags, Ng sees potential. With patience and skill, he transforms these plastics into colorful woven bags, tissue holders, and other useful items.

Ng's mission is to reduce plastic waste while demonstrating the value of discarded items. "I was not always an environmentalist, but somebody has to do this," he said. Ng's journey began when his daughter returned from university with bags of mineral water bottles. He encouraged his community to participate in recycling projects, but found that conventional methods were not financially viable.

In 2019, while working in Bangi, Ng began collecting plastic detergent bags, focusing on their quality and color. He discovered weaving techniques on YouTube and started creating his first product, a bag made from coffee sachets. Ng's creations require a significant amount of plastic, with a tissue holder using about 11 plastic bags.

Despite the time-consuming process, Ng sees his work as a way to keep plastic out of landfills and educate the public on the value of recycling. Ng has trained over 100 people, mostly single mothers, to create woven products. He also collects used rice bags from restaurants and offers biodegradable alternatives. Ng's biggest challenge is changing people's habits, but he believes that seeing residents change their behavior is the real reward.

He hopes to train more people and use social media to reach even more individuals. Ultimately, Ng's work is about leaving a better planet for future generations, planting trees, and teaching children about recycling. He believes that whatever actions we take will leave a lasting impact, even if we are not remembered.