JOHOR BAHRU, Feb 17 – The E-Waste Revolve 2025 program concluded successfully after five days of impactful knowledge-sharing, industry collaboration, and sustainability initiatives. Organized by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in partnership with Universitas PGRI Yogyakarta (UPY), the event acted as a catalyst for raising awareness and driving innovation in electronic waste (E-Waste) management while fostering global partnerships. Before the main event, a preliminary session took place at UPY, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on February 4, 2025, which set the stage for more in-depth discussions and strategic planning for E-Waste Revolve 2025. This session was designed to establish partnerships, refine objectives, and align stakeholders with the program’s impact and execution.
The initiative at the Ibnu Sina Institute (ISI-SIR), UTM Johor Bahru, was fully sponsored by UPY and received strong support from the Centre for Sustainable Nanomaterials (CSNano), ISI-SIR, the Faculty of Science (FS), and the Physics Student Council, along with strategic partners SAPG Technologies Sdn. Bhd. This program successfully connected academia, industry, and communities, reinforcing UTM’s dedication to sustainable solutions and responsible E-Waste management.
Additionally, researchers from UPY shared their knowledge with Form 3 students at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Bandar Baru Uda, accompanied by an E-Waste collection competition featuring an arm robot. This program fosters an atmosphere of engagement and knowledge sharing, emphasizing a structured approach to educate students about E-Waste management and sustainability issues.
During the five-day program, various activities were conducted, including knowledge transfer on the Reused E-Waste Program (Odisi Malar Hijau Module) and a sharing session on E-Waste processing using pyrolysis techniques by SAPG Technologies Sdn. Bhd. The event also featured the exchange of Letter of Intent (LoI) documents, visits to the FS, UTM, and knowledge transfer sessions on basic electronic components and circuits. Additionally, participants explored the Living Lab FS and participated in a knowledge-sharing session on E-Waste led by the UPY team with SMK Bandar Baru Uda. This session included an E-Waste collection competition using a robotic arm. The program also covered sustainability from multiple perspectives, including architecture (Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying) and social sciences (Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities). Participants visited UPMU and embarked on a Sustainability Tour around Johor Bahru, which included key locations such as the Sultan Ismail Library, Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB), and Skyscape.
As global concerns about electronic waste continue to grow, the collaborative efforts of UTM and UPY serve as a model for sustainable technological advancements. As the E-Waste Revolve 2025 initiative concludes, it lays the groundwork for future circular economy practices, academic partnerships, and real-world green innovation initiatives.
Prepared by: Dr. Siti Salwa Alias