Curtin Malaysia’s 500 EcoBricks helps Miri reach 20,000 EcoBrick milestone in bid to enter Guinness Book of World Records

Miri – 19 October 2023 – Curtin University Malaysia’s contribution of 500 EcoBricks made by its students and staff to the EcoBrick Green Wall of Miri Project means 20,000 EcoBricks have now been collected from various organisations in Miri and will allow the project organisers, the Miri Secondhand Dealer and Recycler Association, to fulfill their bid to enter the feat in the Guinness Book of World Records.

This follows a successful entry in the Malaysian Book Records (MYBOR) for collecting 10,000 EcoBricks in the first phase of the project in March this year.

EcoBricks are essentially plastic bottles densely packed with discarded single-use plastic to create reusable building blocks.

The handover of the EcoBricks from Curtin Malaysia was made at an ‘EcoBrick Green Wall of Miri No. 20,000 Handover Ceremony’ held at the university. Officiating at the event was Minister for Transport, Sarawak and Chair of the Curtin Malaysia Management Committee Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin.

Also present were Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts I (Tourism), Sarawak Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew; Curtin Malaysia’s Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Vincent Lee Chieng Chen; Miri City Council SDG Standing Committee chairman Councillor Leslie Lau and Councillor Sean Huang representing the Mayor of Miri, and Miri Secondhand Dealer and Recycler Association chairman Bryan Chia.

In his welcoming speech, Prof. Lee said the EcoBrick Green Wall of Miri Project, initiated by Chia, has made significant strides in collecting and repurposing single-use plastic waste, serving as a model for sustainability efforts in the local community. He also said that the project aligned with Curtin’s strategic pillars of People, Planet and Partnerships, as well as several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), principally Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), Goal 14 (Life Below Water), and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

“By participating in the project, we are contributing to creating awareness about the importance of waste management and environmental conservation among the local community. This aligns with Curtin’s commitment to promoting responsible and engaged global citizenship,” he remarked.

Dato Sri Lee commended the outstanding dedication and hard work exhibited by local schools, non-governmental organisations, government departments and community members in their collective efforts to reduce plastic waste in Miri through the EcoBrick Green Wall of Miri Project. He also commended Chia and the Miri Secondhand Dealer and Recycler Association for their efforts to earn a place in the MYBOR and now the Guinness Book of World Records.

Datuk Ting underscored the importance of partnerships between local authorities, non-governmental organisations, corporate bodies and community groups in achieving the United Nations SDGs. He said that the community-driven EcoBrick Green Wall of Miri Project, besides its environmental benefits, played a significant role in post-pandemic recovery efforts by providing the community with a sense of purpose and unity. The EcoBrick Green Wall will also serve as a model for sustainable and responsible tourism while simultaneously boosting the local economy, he added.

Chia, meanwhile, spoke about the impact of the EcoBrick Green Wall of Miri Project on the Miri community, relating how the project was launched at SJKC Chung Hua Tudan two years ago where the entire school body, from the headmaster to teachers and students, took part. The project then expanded to involve students from other schools, non-governmental organisations, government departments and agencies, and the public.

The EcoBricks Handover Ceremony also featured a student EcoBricks Challenge to recognise the heaviest EcoBrick and the largest number of EcoBricks collected, jointly organised by Curtin Malaysia’s IChemE Student Chapter and Curtin Civil Society, the academic club for civil and construction engineering students.

“Thanks to our dedicated students and staff, we have reached the incredible milestone of 20,000 EcoBricks. Furthermore, through the EcoBrick Challenge, our students have shown their sense of responsibility and enthusiasm for saving the planet from plastic pollution. Together, we share a passion for the environment and the Green Wall of Miri will be a symbol of that passion,” said  Subha E. Zannat, organising chairperson of the EcoBricks Challenge.

“The EcoBrick Challenge not only served as a catalyst for motivating our students to contribute to environmental sustainability, but also resulted in a notable milestone for Miri,” said Yiek Siew Teck, president of the Curtin Malaysia IChemE Student Chapter.

“This event presented a wonderful opportunity to enlighten our campus community on the significance of environmental sustainability. This collaborative effort involving staff and students, the IChemE student chapter and CCS added a compelling dimension, significantly broadening our outreach and inspiring more people on our campus and in the wider community,” said Khor Yong Han, president of the Curtin Civil Society.

Following the competition, Chia conducted a talk and demonstration on plastic sorting and recycling, emphasising the importance of proper plastic disposal and recycling practices.

“Plastic waste has long plagued our ecosystems, clogged waterways, and contributed to environmental degradation on a global scale. We hope that the EcoBrick Project, powered by the enthusiasm and dedication of Curtin Malaysia students and staff, together with local communities, will serve as an inspirational first step towards offering a sustainable solution to reduce plastic pollution. These EcoBricks are not only functional but symbolise our collective commitment to create awareness and take action for responsible resource management,” said Associate Professor Lau Shiew Wei, one of the Curtin EcoBrick project team leads.

For more information about the Curtin EcoBrick project, email the project team leads Associate Professor Lim Chye Ing at chye.ing@curtin.edu.my or Associate Professor Lau Shiew Wei at lau.shiew.wei@curtin.edu.my.

Information on Curtin Malaysia can be found on its website at www.curtin.edu.my, or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or TikTok.

Prof Vincent Lee thanking staff and students of Curtin Malaysia for their efforts

Dato Sri Lee presenting prize to student team calling themselves Brick Busters for making the most EcoBricks

Part of the 500 EcoBricks made by staff and students of Curtin Malaysia

Bryan Chia presenting Dato Sri Lee the 20,00th EcoBrick

IChemE Student Chapter and CCS members with Assoc Prof Lau Shiew Wei (2nd left) during EcoBrick Challenge

EcoBrick Challenge organisers proudly commemorate the 20,000th EcoBrick with Dato Sri Lee, Datuk Ting, Prof Lee, Bryan Chia and others