‘Sarawak may need some time before fully enforcing waste segregation law’
Lo Khere Chiang, Wong King Wei, Bong Lian Huan
KUCHING: It is never too early to educate the community about the importance of waste segregation to help protect the Earth.
In this respect, Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Lo Khere Chiang said members of the public must not heap the landfills with plastics, cans and other perishable items.
“We must recycle paper and newspaper instead of disposing of them in our precious landfills. MPP pays RM250 per tonne to Trienekens to transport the rubbish to the landfills.
“We consistently encourage everyone to segregate their waste and also to recycle as much as possible,” he told reporters yesterday when asked to comment on the move by the federal government to enforce the waste segregation law in six states and two federal territories effective June 1.
Minister of Local Government Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian told See Hua Daily News on Thursday that his ministry would look into whether to follow the move by the federal government, adding that an adequate waste management approach would better preserve the environment so as to protect Mother Earth.
Lo, who would be sworn in as Batu Kitang assemblyman this June 7, said by encouraging people to recycle and segregate their waste, the local authorities could register enormous savings.
“MPP and our dedicated councillors have been working closely with Trienekens on promoting recycling programmes in schools because we believe that the best way to encourage waste segregation and recycling is from our homes.
“Children are the best ambassadors to champion the preservation of the environment, in that they would be able to encourage their parents as well.”
Lo acknowledged the major role played by Trienekens in this endeavour.
“They (Trienekens) have not only been attending MPP’s monthly meetings, they have also gone a step further in proving that they are a responsible and environment-friendly entity.
“For those who segregate their waste — leaving plastics and cans in separate plastic bags and leaving them besides their bins — Trienekens personnel have been educated on proper collection and separate disposal.”
Lo also noted that more and more people were growing conscious about the need to segregate waste at home, adding that although the law could help make the public comply with the policy, education could do the job more effectively.
The MPP chairman, however, was regretful that there were still some irresponsible quarters still dumping rubbish by the road side and in isolated places despite the ongoing education and awareness programmes.
“It is sad and heartbreaking to see these irresponsible people expect the council to clear it (rubbish) for them.
“It costs the council 10 times more to hire backhoes, trucks and personnel to collect the rubbish from the roadside.”
He said Trienekens also provided huge bulk bins at RM120 each for those wishing to dump construction waste. Thus, he advised these individuals to rent out bulk bins specifically for this purpose.
Meanwhile re-elected Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei said while he was all for waste segregation, he felt that implementation would require thorough study and appropriate planning.
He then suggested a ‘one-year test run’ should the state government intend to implement the new waste segregation policy.
“Many countries have done this — we’re considered late. My recent official visit to Taipei in December gave me an eye-opening experience in city council management, especially in garbage collection.
“Taiwan has been ranked as having one of the best garbage collection systems in the world by Wall Street Journal.”
Wong, who is state DAP Socialist Youth chairman, said the state government could modify good ideas and come up with better ones to suit the local situation.
For instance, he said garbage segregation could be done in categories; namely 2D recyclable materials (old newspapers, books and papers), 3D recyclable materials (glass bottles and plastic containers), food waste and big-size materials (furniture).
“Whatever the categories are, to me, the usage of plastic bags (in different colours) as practised in some states in Peninsular Malaysia is not a good idea. It is basically asking people to buy more plastic bags for recycling.
“It sounds so wrong. We are unnecessarily burdening the people and producing more plastic bags.”
Wong also proposed for the increase of the current twice-weekly garbage collection to at least five times a week.
“To be successful in this, the frequency of garbage collection must be increased — different days for different categories of garbage.
“Therefore, our councils should increase the frequency (in garbage collection) before talking about garbage segregation.
“It is not right for the government to ask the people to do more and yet, they are not improving their services.”
For SUPP Kuching organising secretary Bong Lian Huan, waste segregation is definitely a good move, emphasising that the government should educate and promote awareness of the subject among the people prior to implementation.
“The people need time to get used to it, but I personally support this policy to be implemented in urban areas first.
“The government has to give sufficient education and publicity before it implements the policy; and longer grace period should be given. After all,
Mother Earth does not owe us anything; we owe Her everything.
“We should do our part to save Earth.”
As of June 1, the federal government is enforcing the law on waste segregation in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Pahang, Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis and Kedah with the hope of achieving a higher recycling rate.
These states and federal territories adopted the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672) last September, but were given a grace period till May 31 to adjust to the new policy.
Under this law, residents have to separate waste into categories such as plastics, papers, cardboards, glass, metal and food remains.
Under the Act, any landed property owner who fails to segregate the waste is liable to a RM50 fine for the first offence, RM100 for the second offence, and RM500 for the third offence.
The fine for any non-landed property owner is RM100 for the first offence, RM200 for the second offence and RM500 for the third offence.
Court action will be taken for subsequent offences, and anyone found guilty may face up to a maximum fine of RM1,000.
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