Richard Ng is giving plastic waste a second life

Richard Ng, a 68-year-old Ipoh resident, is giving discarded plastic waste a new purpose by weaving it into useful household items. What began as an accidental discovery has evolved into a mission to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainable habits among Malaysians.

Initially, Ng's daughter returned home with bags of mineral water bottles for recycling. This sparked an idea that led Ng to collect plastic waste and educate the public about recycling. In 2014, he and his NGO, Ipoh City Watch, tackled illegal dumping sites, encouraging residents to bring recyclable materials for cash.

However, conventional recycling proved limited, as there was little demand for recycled plastic. This led Ng to explore alternative uses for plastic waste, focusing on detergent and coffee sachets. After learning the technique through online tutorials, Ng embarked on creating woven bags, tissue holders, and other items.

He started workshops to train locals, mostly single mothers, in this craft. Ng also collects used rice bags from restaurants for weaving. His biggest challenge is changing people's habits, as many appreciate his work but do not adopt sustainable practices.

Through his initiatives, Ng aims to train more people to create woven products from waste, providing them with an additional income source. He believes the real reward lies in seeing residents change their behavior and become more environmentally conscious. Ng continues to plant trees and teach children about recycling, hoping to inspire future generations to leave a better planet for the next.