Projek W.E. (W: Waste, E: Environment) is a community empowerment project using artistic and creative approaches to help improve waste management issues at Chowrasta Market, Penang. The project was carried out by a team of eight diverse Community-Engaged Arts (CEA) trainees including artists (e.g., illustrator, dancer, graphic designer, and video editor), social entrepreneur and cultural worker, with continuous guidance and support from Arts-ED’s trainers.

The team conducted a baseline study and cultural mapping of the site from June to August 2020 to gain a better understanding of the market community and its cultural resources. The data obtained were analysed and two main issues at the market that need to be addressed were identified, namely:

• Large quantities of organic waste from the seafood section are dumped at the Pulau Burung landfill in Penang.

• The poorly designed RORO (roll-on/roll-off) bin waste disposal area that leads to unsafe practices by the vendors (users).

To enhance a more meaningful engagement with the community, a discussion session (Mai Bincang) was held with the stakeholders and beneficiaries (e.g., seafood vendors, market management staff, architects, and local farmers). After introducing the project’s initiative and plans, and laying out each person’s role in the project, the team brainstormed with all the attendees to come up with solutions, with particular preferences given to artistic and creative tools and approaches, for the two issues identified.

For example, two trainees, who are dancers/choreographers, performed a 3-min dance based on the vendors’ daily movements. This particular activity created space that opened up the dialogue between the trainees and the vendors.

Three trainees, who are visual artists, initiated a portrait drawing activity to sketch the portraits of all 40 seafood vendors in action and more than 10 of the market management staff from IM Global Property. Although interactions with the vendors were limited during the process, this unusual activity captured the vendors’ interest in having their portraits sketched. The drawings were then used in a warmup (icebreaker) activity called Cam-Cam Muka where the vendors had to identify one another based on the sketches.

Another creative tool used was the hand-drawn comics displayed at the market to depict the safety and cleanliness of the RORO bin waste disposal area. While less formal in nature, this visual communication tool can catch the attention of viewers who have little time to spare.

ISSUE 1: ORGANIC WASTE UPCYCLING

During the Mai Bincang session, the team shared findings from their research on the long-term impact of dumping waste at the Pulau Burung landfill in Penang. Based on further research, the team proposed the idea of upcycling the organic waste from the seafood section to be made into fertiliser. Three local farmers were invited to share their knowledge and experience of using organic fertilisers. One of the farmers, Joseph Teoh, showed keen interest in this initiative. Prior to the Mai Bincang session, the team conducted on-site research to collect data on the type of waste and average waste produced daily at the market. Following that, the vendors and market management staff, together with Joseph Teoh, agreed for a 10-week trial (September until November 2020) of organic waste collection and the team managed to convince 31 seafood vendors to participate by separating their waste once a week for collection. Check out the photos below to know more about the process and different creative tools and methods used to engage with the community.

Upon successfully completing the 10-week trial of the waste collection up to 122 pails of seafood equivalent to 1,888.2 kg of organic waste, were collected. Ultimately, this effort reduces daily waste dumped at Pulau Burung landfill.

Check out this poster for a visual understanding.

ISSUE 2: IMPROVING WASTE DISPOSAL AREA (RORO Bin)

To create a safer waste disposal area for the vendors at the Chowrasta Market, the team presented several creative approaches for the waste disposal area to the vendors.

During the Mai Bincang session, the team used information from the baseline study to gather input from the primary users (vendors), together with the market management staff and designers (architecture). Several proposals to improve the safety of the waste disposal area were then drafted. Follow-up discussions were held with the designers to consolidate the designs.

A knowledge sharing session with the vendors was organized and sketches of the designs including a 3D model of the RORO bin were displayed to help the vendors visualise the designs and provide feedback. The vendors were invited to vote for their preferred design and the design with the most votes was presented to the state council for design and budget approval. This activity gave an opportunity for the vendors to voice out their concerns and take a more active role in the process.

SHARING AND APPRECIATION SHOWCASE

After 5 months of engaging with all the parties involved in piloting an upcycling of organic waste, the trainees and Arts-ED team organized a sharing and appreciation showcase at the seafood section of the Chowrasta Market. The trainees had the opportunity to share the processes of using creative approaches to engage with the community. The showcase was intended to establish a more streamline communication between all the stakeholders (vendors, market management, The Municipal Council of Penang Island) to exchange ideas to achieve the shared goal. Further plans were made together with the state council to turn this initiative into a pilot project.

Check out this news article: The Star, Oriental Daily & Kwong Wah Yit Poh.

CONTINUING THE EFFORT

After the training ended in November 2020, some of the trainees took up the initiative to continue the effort and look for a possible solution and upgrade where needed.

ISSUE 1: ORGANIC WASTE UPCYCLING.

After the 10-week trial ended, in December 2020, the trainees organized a follow-up discussion with the vendors, market management staff and the farmer. They agreed to add another day for collecting the waste to the upcycling project to twice a week. This was suggested to keep the participation momentum going among the vendors at the seafood section. The collection Standard of Procedure (SOP) was updated to ease the process of collection. A WhatsApp group was created in order to boost communication among all parties and keep everyone updated on the progress.

Earlier in January 2021, some of the trainees, vendors and the market management staff of Chowrasta Market went on a field trip to Joseph Teoh’s farm in Teluk Bahang. The aim of the trip was to introduce the idea of how organic farming is done on his farm and its impacts on the environment. The vendors gained better insight into the processes of composting organic waste.

ISSUE 2: IMPROVING WASTE DISPOSAL AREA

The trainees continued to follow up with the state council for updates and progress of the proposed plan. Finally, the poorly designed waste disposal area (RORO) that has been delayed or ignored of any action for 4 years was upgraded in February 2021 by the Licensing Department, the local municipality (Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang) after few cross-stakeholders meetings. This proves the importance of involving and engaging relevant authorities and all stakeholders in a community project for continuous support.

Trainees: Choong Jian Ming, Leong Yoke Mee, Cheng Yen Pheng, Nurul Shahira Jamalluddin, Sydney Lee, Chong Ley-lynn, Yee Sue Ki and Liu Yong Sean.

Reported by: Nurul Shahira Jamalluddin, Radziah Othuman Sahib

Edited by: Tan Lay Cheng, Chen Yoke Pin

This initiative is made possible with our Community Partner, Yayasan Hasanah.

Supported by IM Global Property Consultants Sdn Bhd (Chowrasta Market Management) & Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang.

[Read also: Community-Engaged Arts Training: Building Capacity, Fostering Community]

[Read also: Dance artist Yee Sue Ki comes full circle in the community]