An illegal dumping site within MPP’s area of jurisdiction is not just unsightly but a public health and environmental hazard.
Its chairman Lo Khere Chiang described those who litter the environment indiscriminately as irresponsible and inconsiderate.
He said it was annoying to see heaps of waste dumped on empty land by the roadside and to receive complaints from the public about illegal dumping.
“This kind of people, they don’t care about others. But when solid waste is improperly disposed of, it presents all kinds of hazards.
“Littering and illegal dumping of domestic waste in all forms should be avoided in order to protect the population and the environment from every form of degradation and the people from environmental or health hazards,” he said.
Lo acknowledged it was not easy to bring the culprits to court unless there was solid evidence against them.
He noted culprits would not dispose of waste indiscriminately when enforcement personnel are around.
Lo, who is also Batu Kitang assemblyman, said education is an effective way to reduce or eradicate illegal dumping.
“There is a pressing need to educate the public on the danger all kinds of solid waste can pose to the environment, habitats and human life, as well as their responsibility,” he said.
He said everyone can play a part by helping to protect the environment from litter and improper disposal of solid waste.
Among others, he said, the public can play a part by tying or bundling up household trash including broken chairs and tables, and placing them inside or near trash bins; encouraging others to practise proper waste management; and reporting illegal dumping to local authorities.
Lo said it was also important for the public to understand that certain types of solid waste like broken bottles, cups and plastic bags trap rainwater, offering mosquitoes the perfect breeding ground.
He said littering and unregulated dumping of waste could also affect tourism as no one wants to visit a dirty place.
He believed that large-scale illegal dumping can create a space which nobody wants to live in or use for productive ventures like construction and farming.
Lo said among the most common waste being dumped illegally in areas within MPP’s jurisdiction were bulk and mixed waste such as old furniture, carton boxes, plastics, discarded food, scrap tyres, old appliances, construction materials and garden waste.
Illegal dumping is an offence under the Natural Resources Environment Board Ordinance, and punishable by law, carrying the maximum penalty of RM20,000 under Section 30 (1) (a) & (b).
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