LOSHANA K SHAGAR The Star 26 Oct 16;
KUALA LUMPUR: Solid waste separation at source has not only encouraged recycling, but has saved the Government about RM7mil in costs.
Deputy Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Halimah Mohd Sadique said separation at source is done by households in seven states that have enforced the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007.
“It involves 53 local authorities, 1.6 million landed premises and more than 535,000 multi-storey premises, and since June 1, we have recycled 1,724 tonnes of waste.
“We have saved a total of 237,230 tonnes of solid waste from being thrown away, cutting down solid waste collection to 1.55 million tonnes after the programme.
“Considering the current estimated cost of landfill management, which is RM30 per tonne, we have saved RM7mil,” she said in reply to a question from Datuk Rozman Isli (BN–Labuan) in the Dewan Rakyat Wednesday.
Malaysians threw an estimated 38,000 tonnes of solid waste per day in 2015, compared to 33,000 tonnes a day in 2012.
The country aims to hit a 22% recycling rate by 2020. As of this year, the rate is 17.49%.
Halimah said that while communities have welcomed the programme, including those in the suburbs, the ministry is not bringing the programme to rural areas because the Act is only being enforced in local authority areas and those served by Solid Waste Management and Public Cleanliness Corporation (SWCorp).
“However, the ministry encourages suburban and rural communities to also practise separating solid waste at home or at work,” she said.
The seven states involved in the waste separation programme are Johor, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Kedah, Perlis, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
