CS2 Volunteering at Tzu Chi Foundation!: Volunteer at Klang Tzu Chi Recycling Centre

On the 14th of May, we arrive Klang’s Tzu Chi Recycling Centre at 10 a.m. It is a large recycling centre compare to SS3 one. We meet Ms Chen, the senior Tzu Chi staff in this recycling centre at the front door. Ms Chen is a very enthusiastic person, she invited us to have breakfast with them before work.

After having a simple breakfast, Ms Chen leaded us look around and introduced on how this recycling centre operated. She also explained the classification method of recycling items with us. Although we already know how to classify the items as we do recycle in SS3 before, we still listen to her speech carefully. Later, we found the way of them handling aluminium cans are different from previous recycling centre. In SS3, they told us to flatten the aluminium cans to save more space. But in this recycling centre they don’t flatten the aluminium cans because the recycling factory asked them to send the cans without flattened to let the new machines handle aluminium cans more efficiently.

We sort out recyclable items from the trolley.

Every day, people around this area will bring recyclable items to here and put things into the trolleys. There are several trolleys put in the front door, our job is to sort out those items by categories from the trolleys. Before starting out the sorting, Ms Chen bring out several linen bags and plastic bags for a clearer classify the categorize of each item according to their type. Then we start to sort out various bags of recyclable items from one of the trolley. When a bag is full, we move it to the classified area base on its type.

Han Shen sorting paper product into different category.

While we are sorting recyclable items, Han Shen was called to help other people. There are one room for storing all paper products in this recycling centre. Han Shen was called to that place to help on sorting paper made into different category.

At 12 p.m, we have lunch together with them. Due to Tzu Chi have related to Buddhism, the meals they provide are vegetarian. The meals are cooked in the kitchen and the dishes are put on a long table. Everyone line up to take the amount they want to eat.

After lunch, we continue our work. While we are sorting recyclable items, there are some residents who lived around here bring the stuff from their home. Some of them are recyclable items, and some are things that can be sell as second-hand goods. Whenever we found something that are still new or can be reused, we will send it to upstairs, and place it in the shop. The shop are selling those goods to people in need at a cheap price.

The shop on 2nd Floor

During this time, we found out some of the volunteers are people with disabilities. There is an uncle who looks 50 years old. Although his left arm is disabled and some of his actions are inconvenient, he still helps others to weigh heavy things with his strong right arm. He is a role model for us to learn, he has to work harder than we do to achieve results. We must learn his spirit of perseverance and self-improvement.

At the end of the day, bought some pizza to reward everyone for the hard working. After we finished eating, we cleaned up the dishes and ready to go back. Before leaving, we leave our impression in the visitor feedback book.