By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 23: Mentari Alam Eko (M) Sdn Bhd (MAEKO), Malaysia’s pioneer in food-waste composting technology, and IJO Borneo Sdn Bhd (IJO Borneo) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a joint venture company, MAEKO IJO Borneo Sdn Bhd, to expand on-site food-waste composting, grey-water, and other waste management solutions across Sarawak and the wider Borneo region.
The signing ceremony took place on Wednesday (Oct 22) during the National Bioeconomy Showcase at International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) 2025, held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).
Under the partnership, MAEKO will contribute its certified, high-efficiency on-site composting technology, which can transform food waste into soil-enriching material within hours, while IJO Borneo brings its local expertise in market development, project implementation, and after-sales service.
According to a media release, the joint venture will initially focus on key sectors such as hospitality and F&B, healthcare and education, retail and mixed-use developments, municipal councils, and agro-industrial operators.
“This partnership is about turning an environmental burden into a circular opportunity,” said Chelsea Chee, chief executive officer of MAEKO, who signed the MOU on behalf of the company.
“With IJO Borneo’s on-the-ground capability and our reliable, hygienic technology paired with IoT Real-Time Carbon Tracking, we’re ready to help city, municipal, and district councils, hotels, hospitals, and other businesses cut waste-handling costs, reduce landfill dependence, and meet their ESG goals,” she added.
Signing on behalf of IJO Borneo, chairman Dato’ Ir Janang Bungsu said the collaboration is timely as Borneo faces growing challenges in waste management amid rapid urbanisation and tourism growth.
“Borneo deserves practical sustainability solutions that work in our hot, humid, high-throughput environments. By pairing MAEKO’s technology with locally trained teams, MAEKO IJO Borneo will deliver right-sized systems and measurable results for clients, first in Sarawak, and progressively to Sabah, Brunei Darussalam, and Kalimantan,” he explained.
The new joint venture will focus on four key impact pillars, including to source reduction and circular outputs, cleaner water pathways, operational savings and ESG performance, and local enablement.
These encompass transforming unavoidable food waste into nutrient-rich compost for landscaping and urban farming; improving grey-water quality to reduce odour, grease build-up, and treatment costs; lowering collection frequency and disposal fees while enhancing sustainability reporting; and empowering local service partners and in-house teams to ensure reliable operations and job creation across Borneo, beginning with Sarawak.
With this collaboration, MAEKO IJO Borneo aims to support Sarawak’s circular economy vision and contribute to regional sustainability goals by providing scalable, data-driven, and locally managed waste solutions. — DayakDaily
