Mandatory Solid Waste Separation At Source In 2015 - Minister

PUTRAJAYA, March 13 (Bernama) - The Malaysian government will be implementing the mandatory separation of solid waste at source as early as 2015, the Minister of Housing and Local Government Chor Chee Heung said Monday. He said the move was in line with the enforcement of the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act and the privatisation of solid waste management and public cleansing in Peninsular Malaysia on Sept 1 last year. As provided for in the act, he said each household or premises owner who failed to separate solid waste would be penalised. "Considering the act has just begun, we will allow at least three years so that the people are aware of the importance of separating solid waste in the house which would contribute to the reduction of solid waste generation through the practice of recycling," he said here. Earlier Chor attended a special preview of the 'National Department of Solid Waste Recycling Campaign'. Also present was popular actress Maya Karin who was involved in the recycling campaign promotion advertisement which would be aired over television and radio from March 12 to May 30. The advertisement is aimed at providing awareness to members of the public on reducing solid waste generation through recycling. Apart from that, it would also explain on the states involved in the distribution of the 120 liter garbage bins and the '2+1 collection system'. Chor said the recycling campaign was a cooperation between the National Solid Waste Management Department and the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) under the intiative of the Greater Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley Economic Transformation Programme. In line with the implementation of the recycling campaign, Chor said the ministry through its three concession companies appointed had begun distributing solid waste bins to landed property owners according to the areas scheduled up to 2014. He said the three concession companies are Alam Flora Sdn Bhd (for Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Pahang), SWM Environment Sdn Bhd (for Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan) and Environment Idaman Sdn Bhd (for Kedah and Perlis) are expected to distribute five million solid waste bins with wheels. "The government will also implement the 2+1 solid waste collection system, where waste is collected three times a week, which is expected to start in September this year," he said. -- BERNAMA