Waste separation at source begins in Komtar

GEORGE TOWN (Feb 1): Government staff at the state administration offices in Komtar, Penang start separating the garbage at source today.

The pilot project for Komtar by PDC Setia Urus, which manages the building, is part of a larger effort to get Penang ready for the green practice that will be enforced statewide on June 1.

All staff at the government offices will have to sort their garbage into domestic waste and recyclable waste.

Local government exco Chow Kon Yeow said bins for the different types of recyclable waste were available on eight floors, but all 60 floors would eventually get their own bins.

Chow said staff could also put their recyclable waste in boxes.

"The state government is making preparations to implement garbage separation at source on June 1, so we hope government staff will show a good example by starting the practice at their workplace.

"It will be even better if they could do it at home," he said at the launch of the garbage separation project in Komtar this morning by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Chow said there were eight categories of premises taking part in the garbage separation at source programme.

They are government complexes, residential schemes, low-cost government housing projects, condominiums, factories, shopping centres, hotels and restaurants.

He said a pilot project was launched in Kampung Changkat two weeks ago with the cooperation of the local village development and security committee.

"It has been successful so far. The village collected over 1,000kg of recyclable waste and generated RM370 for the community.

"The villagers have made the project a success. I hope that our staff at Komtar will also show Penangites a good example," he said.

Chow said other pilot projects would be launched for the various categories of premises within the month.

He said all assemblymen would also be placing three bins for recycling at the service centres.

Lim said Penang had the highest recycling rate in the country at 32%, which is far higher than the national average of 10.5%.

"The garbage separation at source programme will help us reduce the volume of solid waste sent to the Pulau Burong landfill.

"Every day, we send 1,700 tonnes of garbage there, with the Penang Island City Council and Seberang Perai Municipal Council spending RM95.64 million and RM98.99 million a year on solid waste management and public cleanliness

"The success of this campaign will enable the state to save this RM200 million," he said.

Local government division solid waste management unit head Oon Lai Kuan said it would be an offence not to separate the garbage when the the bylaws regulating garbage separation at source and garbage collection services were gazetted.

"The bylaws will be gazetted before June 1 and once enforced, it is an offence not to practise garbage separation at source.

"The penalty is a RM2,000 fine, six months’ jail or both," he said.

Oon added that only licensed garbage collectors would be allowed to collect the waste. -- The Malaysian Insider

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