By Zareef Muzammil
SHAH ALAM, Aug 3 — The state government is currently studying a proposal for a dedicated service to collect recyclable waste in all local councils within Selangor.
State executive councillor for the environment Hee Loy Sian said a detailed study is needed as the implementation of such a service will be costly and create more burden for the parties involved.
“If we want to implement waste segregation at home, there needs to be specific collection rounds for the recyclable waste as it cannot be mixed with other types of garbage.
“Currently solid waste collection is conducted thrice weekly by the local councils, if more rounds are added it will put a burden on them. So we need to review this proposal,” he said during the Selangor State Legislative Assembly here yesterday.
Hee was responding to a query from Sementa state assemblyman Dr Daroyah Alwi on Selangor’s plan to ensure it achieves Malaysia’s target of reducing recyclable waste sent to landfills by more than 40 per cent by 2025, through the use of the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) components.
The councillor admitted public awareness on the matter remains low in the country, but that Selangor has implemented programmes and initiatives to educate school children on it.
“It is important to hold programmes so we can instil awareness in pupils and preschoolers, where they become familiar with waste segregation at a young age,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hee said the 3Rs campaign in Selangor does not use the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672).
“It is true the state government does emphasise such efforts, half of which goes under the local councils and the rest under my portfolio. Yet we want to see how the Federal government does it.
“Previously they implemented the waste segregation at home programme that did not succeed, due to people’s attitude who remain unawarene of recycling efforts,” he said.
