THE Penang government, through the local councils, is actively monitoring recycling premises in the state.
“Enforcement action will be taken if the operators decide to operate illegally, without proper licence.
“(We encourage) operators to operate legally and abide by the environmental guidelines. We can practise development control such as disallowing the planning permission of the operator to rezone the land if we are not keen on the type of business operation.
“The problem arises when some failed to submit any application and start operating illegally. Hence, monitoring and enforcement are necessary,” Chow told a press conference after launching the Business Events Penang 2018 Annual Review at E&O Hotel Penang today.
Chow said that state Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh has been monitoring the recycling activities in Penang.
“He had even taken Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin to visit a number of recycling factories in Penang to understand the situation better,” he said.
He also said that Phee was closely monitoring the cases of illegal dumpsites in Penang.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Alvie Cheng
Video by Chan Kok Kuan