Story by Victor Seow
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud
IN its efforts to promote a cleaner and healthier environment, Penang aims to achieve complete segregation of waste at source by June 1 next year.
During a workshop from Oct 2 to 4, various stakeholders including representatives from shopping malls, hotels, factories and joint management bodies (JMB) of condominiums met officials from the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) to discuss the matter.
Subsequently, seven clusters have been identified so far to play a pivotal role in the implementation of this policy, namely villages, hardcore poor housing projects (PPRT), high-rise buildings, factories, housing estates, shopping complexes, hotels and food outlets.
The management bodies, local community leaders and operators of the mentioned clusters will be tasked to prepare and manage the recycling bins in their respective areas in order to segregate the disposed waste and to promote good recycling habits.
State exco member for Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Chow Kon Yeow, who attended the closing ceremony on Oct 4, shed light on the importance of this policy for a developing country like Malaysia and assured all who were present that the state government would spare no efforts to ensure its successful implementation next year.
“Waste management is a huge challenge for a developing nation like Malaysia. This is made even worse for states which have insufficient financial resources. I am, nevertheless, truly confident that Penangites will give their complete support and cooperation to the state government in this pressing matter,” Chow said in his speech.
“Penang is one of the smallest states in Malaysia but the participation of its people in government policies is among the highest. Lone Pina, Palazzo, Gold Coast, Kampung Sungai Jawi, Taman Pandan, Pangsa Tanjung Indah, Park View and Sunway Carnival Mall have successfully implemented their respective segregation of waste and they form our pilot project in this matter,” he added.
Others present during the event were assemblymembers Yeoh Soon Hin (Paya Terubong), Soon Lip Chee (Jawi), Teh Lai Heng (Komtar) and Lee Khai Loon (Machang Bubuk), Solid Waste Management unit head Oon Lai Kuan and the principal assistant secretary of the Local Council Division (Penang State Secretariat) K. Vishanthini.
According to figures released by the local council, an average of 1,800 tons of garbage is produced daily which comes to around 1.1 kg of waste produced by each Penangite in a single day.
This figure is in line with global standards of waste production per person per day. Penang has a population of 1.6 million people.
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