Buletin Mutiara on May 22, 2026 - Penang: Advancing Circular Economy with AI-Powered Recycling Hub
Penang ramps up circular economy push with launch of AI-powered recycling hub
May 22, 2026
Penang is strengthening its circular economy efforts with the launch of an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered recycling hub near Komtar, introducing technology-driven collection for e-waste, plastics, scrap metals and used beverage cartons.
The initiative was launched alongside a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Techom Metal Sdn Bhd and seven partners: Riiicycle Tech Sdn Bhd, Linergy Power Sdn Bhd, EVE Energy Co., Ltd, Tenpower Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Agmo Studio Sdn Bhd, Cellcycle Ltd and The Solar House Sdn Bhd. The collaboration is aimed at strengthening responsible recycling practices across Penang.
The signing ceremony, held at JEN Penang Georgetown by Shangri-La, was witnessed by state Housing and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Seri Sundarajoo Somu and Penang Green Council chief executive officer Josephine Tan.
Following the ceremony, Sundarajoo led a delegation to Pacific Komtar, where Riiicycle unveiled the Kitar Hub, sponsored by Techom. The initiative features several AI-powered recycling bins designed to provide a more accessible way for the public to dispose of recyclable materials.
Making recycling easier
"Penang's circular economy efforts are increasingly focused on making recycling convenient and accessible to the public".
According to Sundarajoo, Techom and Riiicycle already have more than 100 e-waste collection points and are looking to expand further. Techom founder YC Tan confirmed that more than 100 collection points have been established throughout Penang through collaborations with recyclers.
The newly launched Kitar Hub near Komtar is one of the latest additions to this collection network.
Penang Green Council's Josephine Tan said Penang currently has 246 recycling stations across the island and Seberang Perai under a broader public-private collaboration model.
The council also provides the Mampan online directory, which allows communities to locate nearby collection centres and recycling stations according to waste categories such as e-waste, textiles and plastics.
The expansion of collection infrastructure reflects an important principle of the circular economy: recyclable materials need an accessible route back into the recovery system instead of being discarded as general waste.
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Using AI to improve waste collection
Technology is another key part of the Kitar Hub initiative.
Riiicycle founder Chin Huat Chew explained that the AI-powered bins cover four categories: e-waste, plastics, scrap metals and used beverage cartons.
Users scan a QR code displayed on the units and install the Riiicycle mobile application to participate. When recyclable items are deposited, users can receive rewards that may be redeemed through Touch ’n Go eWallet credits or vouchers, depending on the material.
The system also uses cameras and CCTV monitoring to address incorrect disposal and contamination.
This is particularly important because mixing unsuitable waste with recyclable materials can affect the recyclability of an entire collection. Chin highlighted examples such as food waste being placed in recycling bins or liquids contaminating battery collection.
For Riiicycle, effective circularity therefore begins with effective collection.
The company is targeting the rollout of approximately 100 smart bins and AI bins across Penang in 2026. Smart bins can weigh recyclable materials and automatically reward users, while AI-powered bins use intelligent systems to improve waste segregation efficiency.
From a linear to a circular economy
The initiative also reflects Penang's broader push to move away from a linear approach to consumption and waste.
Under the conventional linear model, raw materials are extracted, turned into products, consumed and eventually discarded. A circular economy instead aims to keep useful materials in circulation through better collection, recovery and recycling.
Sundarajoo emphasised that continuously extracting raw materials is not sustainable in the long term. Recycling provides an alternative by allowing existing resources to be recovered and used again while reducing reliance on landfill sites.
Techom's recycling activities were highlighted as one example. According to Sundarajoo, aluminium and copper components are recycled locally, while black mass recovered from batteries is exported and later returned in the form of lithium batteries.
The process demonstrates how materials that might otherwise become waste can potentially return to the economic cycle.
Education remains essential
Technology and infrastructure alone, however, do not guarantee successful recycling.
Education was repeatedly highlighted as an important part of the transition towards a circular economy.
Sundarajoo said Penang is conducting educational programmes through Penang Green Council to improve understanding of circular economy practices and green initiatives.
YC Tan similarly highlighted the role of public awareness, noting that more than 1,000 campaigns had been conducted over the previous two to three years.
The objective is to encourage people to properly segregate recyclable materials while using technology and incentives to make participation more convenient.
Authorities are also engaging with the Department of Environment (DOE) to ensure appropriate compliance and handling procedures for e-waste collection.
Binsen and Riiicycle supporting plastic collection
The growing recycling ecosystem is also relevant to the way businesses approach plastic circularity.
Binsen Plastic collaborates with Riiicycle on Reverse Vending Machine solutions for plastic product collection, connecting Binsen's involvement in the packaging industry with practical approaches to post-use plastic recovery.
This complements Binsen Green's focus on sustainable packaging solutions. While reducing dependence on conventional plastic packaging is one part of the sustainability transition, improving the collection and recovery of plastics already in circulation is another important part of responsible material management.
Through Binsen Plastic's collaboration with Riiicycle, the approach connects packaging, collection and recycling, supporting the wider principles of a circular economy.
Businesses, organisations and other parties interested in learning more about Reverse Vending Machine solutions for plastic collection are welcome to contact Binsen Green Resources Sdn Bhd for further information.
Binsen and Riiicycle supporting plastic circularity
The development of Penang’s recycling ecosystem also aligns with Binsen’s commitment to responsible plastic management and circular economy practices.
Binsen Plastic collaborates with Riiicycle on Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) solutions for the collection of plastic products. The collaboration provides a practical collection channel that encourages used plastic products to be properly returned and collected rather than disposed of as general waste.
Reverse Vending Machines can support better waste segregation and make plastic collection more convenient and accessible. By creating a structured collection point for plastic products, the initiative contributes to the wider circular economy approach of keeping materials in use and supporting their recovery for recycling.
This collaboration complements Binsen Green’s sustainable packaging initiatives. While Binsen Green provides more sustainable packaging alternatives, including compostable solutions, Binsen Plastic’s collaboration with Riiicycle supports another important part of the material lifecycle: collecting plastic products after use and directing them towards appropriate recovery and recycling channels.
Together, these efforts demonstrate how businesses can address sustainability from different directions, from introducing alternative packaging materials to improving the collection and recovery of existing plastic products.
Businesses, organisations, property owners, retailers, institutions and other parties interested in learning more about Reverse Vending Machine solutions for plastic collection are welcome to contact Binsen Green Resources Sdn Bhd for further information and potential collaboration.
This version makes the Binsen × Riiicycle collaboration a meaningful part of the article instead of adding it only as an advertisement at the end.
Making Recycling More Accessible at Kitar Hub
Located at KOMTAR, opposite the Pacific Marketplace entrance, Kitar Hub provides the public with a convenient one-stop location to recycle selected waste materials. The initiative is designed to make recycling more accessible while encouraging greater public participation in Penang’s transition towards a circular economy.
Kitar Hub accepts several categories of recyclable materials, including e-waste, used beverage cartons (UBC), plastic bottles and containers, and scrap metal such as aluminium and tin cans.
The recycling process is designed to be simple. Users can scan the QR code, deposit their recyclable items, and earn Riiipoints. This combines recycling with a reward mechanism, encouraging people to develop more consistent and responsible waste disposal habits.
The facility also offers a self-service recycling option available around the clock, helping make responsible disposal more convenient for residents and visitors in George Town. By providing a central collection point for different recyclable materials, Kitar Hub supports better waste segregation and helps divert recyclable resources away from disposal.
Connecting the Initiative with Binsen
The initiative is also relevant to Binsen Plastic’s collaboration with Riiicycle, which focuses on Reverse Vending Machine solutions for the collection of plastic products. This collaboration reflects Binsen’s wider efforts to support circularity by encouraging the collection and recovery of plastic materials instead of treating them solely as waste.
For Binsen Green Resources Sdn Bhd, initiatives such as Kitar Hub complement the company’s commitment to sustainable packaging and responsible material management. While Binsen Green provides alternative packaging solutions, improved collection and recycling infrastructure can help businesses and communities manage existing material waste more responsibly.
Businesses, organisations, or other parties interested in learning more about Reverse Vending Machine solutions for plastic collection are welcome to contact Binsen Green Resources Sdn Bhd for further information.
Building Penang's recycling ecosystem
The Kitar Hub represents another step in Penang's efforts to combine public participation, private-sector collaboration, technology and recycling infrastructure.
Its location near Komtar also places the initiative in an accessible area close to the state government's administrative hub. Penang Green Council additionally acknowledged Penang Development Corporation (PDC) Setia Urus for its role in setting up the initiative around Komtar.
From more than 100 e-waste collection points to 246 recycling stations and the introduction of AI-powered collection, Penang is developing multiple channels to encourage materials to be collected and recovered rather than sent directly to disposal sites.
For Binsen, the direction is closely connected to the wider conversation around responsible packaging and material management. Sustainable packaging alternatives can help address material choices at the beginning of the product lifecycle, while collection initiatives such as Reverse Vending Machines can support recovery at the end of use.
Together, these approaches contribute towards a more circular system in which reducing, collecting, recovering and recycling materials become part of the same sustainability strategy.
Event Details
Date: 22 May 2026
Location: JEN Penang Georgetown by Shangri-La and Pacific Komtar, Penang
Initiative: AI-Powered Kitar Hub
Key Focus: Circular Economy, E-Waste Collection, Plastic Recycling, AI-Powered Recycling and Waste Segregation
Key Organisations: Techom Metal Sdn Bhd, Riiicycle Tech Sdn Bhd and collaborating partners
Supported by: Penang Green Council and relevant industry stakeholders
Source: Buletin Mutiara, “Penang ramps up circular economy push with launch of AI-powered e-waste collection hub,” 22 May 2026.
Jul 28,2026