Turn Trash Into Perks: Klang Valley’s Recycling Spots You Should Know

By Jocelyn Ng Xiao Qi

Did you know that Malaysia’s recycling rate in 2024 is only 37.9%? 

While recycling culture in Malaysia might not be as common as other countries like South Korea and Japan due to strict regulations, that doesn’t mean we’re completely behind! In fact, there are several brands and places around the Klang Valley that make recycling easy and even more rewarding than ever. In celebration of World Environment Day (June 5), here are some spots where you can drop off your recyclables and walk away with free stuff in return!

1. L’Occitane’s BIG Little Things (BLT) Programme

Got a pile of empty skincare or beauty products and ended up always throwing them away? Not anymore! Just clean, dry, and drop them off at selected L’Occitane stores across Malaysia. Since 2019, L’Occitane Malaysia has collaborated with i-CYCLE Malaysia to run a sustainable recycling programme. The best part? For every 10 empties, you can get a miniature product, and for every 50, you’ll receive a voucher that is worth more than you can imagine. Head over to their official website to check out which items of yours are qualified now! P.S. They do accept glasses! 

Image: L’Occitane Malaysia Official Website

2. IPC Recycling & Buy Back Centre (RBBC)

Still keeping stacks of books and papers from high school? It’s time to say goodbye! IPC’s RBBC allows you to recycle all sorts of household items like books, papers, plastic, cardboard, clothes, metal, and even food waste. As a reward, you’ll earn Tack Points that can be redeemed for IPC vouchers and selected products. Give your old items a new purpose and reward yourself now!

Image: IPC Shopping Centre Official Website

3. The Body Shop’s Reuse, Recycle, Repeat Programme

You might have noticed that L’Occitane’s recycling programme doesn’t take makeup products, but The Body Shop does! As long as your empties are made of plastic type 2 (HDPE), 4 (LDPE), or 5 (PP), you’re good to go. All you need to do is clean, dry, and bring them over to the nearest store from you. With every 10 empties regardless of the brand, you’ll receive an e-voucher. Beauty lovers, this is your sign.

Image: The Body Shop Malaysia Official Website

4. 1RECYCLING CENTRE (1RC) @1 Utama

If you’re a regular at 1 Utama (aka a true “kaki”), you’ve probably seen this spot, but if not, here’s why it’s worth checking out! Like IPC’s RBBC, 1RC accepts a wide range of recyclables including old clothes, bags, toys, gadgets, electronics (e-waste), paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, and even aluminium cans. You can earn Green Points (GP) for what you recycle, including e-waste which IPC doesn’t count. Collect 1,000 GP and convert them into ONECARD UPoints to use for shopping and dining around the mall. Now that’s how you recycle smart with perks.

Image: 1 Utama Official Website

So what are you waiting for? It’s time to do some summer cleaning, gather your recyclables and drop them off! Let’s make recycling a habit, not just for our mother earth, but also for some well-earned perks.