Illegal dumping and ways to combat it has been a hot topic in Kajang this year

The Star, Thursday, 24 December 2015

by farah fazanna

THE YEAR was a tough one for the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj), particularly in battling the rubbish issue.

Almost every month, the council would discuss the plans to combat the issue at its full board meeting.

The council had seen its fair share of rubbish problems for the past few years. 

When Mohd Sayuthi Bakar took over as MPKj president early this year, he promised to solve the garbage problem.

In August, the council introduced a new job specification for its contractors.

Since implementing the new job specification, many shopowners and residents said the situation had improved. 

Under the new job specification, the contractors are tasked with cleaning drains in residential areas twice a month. 

A child playing at the colourful Pinwheel Garden during the Royal Floria.

 

The drains in commercial areas are cleaned four times a month.

Additionally, the sweeping of roads in commercial areas will be increased to twice a day, compared to only once a day, previously.

Contractors would also be required to sweep the roads in residential areas.

Additionally, the collection of bulk waste would be increased to four times a month, from twice a month.

The council had also tackled the problem of illegal dumping sites.

Four locations were identified – two in Sungai Serai, and one each in Twin Palms and Desa Bukit Jaya.

From January to November this year, 250 lorries have been confiscated and the council had also taken stern action against the land owners.

Mohd Sayuthi said the council would be working closely with the land office to have the land owners charged in court.

The council also encouraged owners of commercial premises to have rubbish bins, be it for their own usage or for shoppers.

This was done to ensure premises had a proper place to dump their rubbish, and also make it easier for the contractors to pick up the rubbish.

Those not having a proper rubbish bin would be issued a compound of RM20 the first time. However, if the owners still did not have the rubbish bins by the second inspection, a RM500 compound would be issued.

Apart from the rubbish issue, the residents protested when the council proposed for paid parking lots.

The proposed locations were Bandar Mahkota Cheras, Sungai Long and Bandar Baru Bangi. However, MPKj had postponed the move to next year. 

Over in Putrajaya, the residents have to separate their wastes beginning September.

There was mixed reactions to the waste separation scheme with some residents claiming they did not have sufficient information about the scheme.

Some of the residents had also taken the initiative to start recycling their waste and also taught their children on recycling.

Among the international events that were held at Putrajaya were the Royal Floria, the 7th Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, the FIA Formula E Championship, Putrajaya International Islamic Arts and Culture Festival and the Light and Motion Putrajaya.