PETALING JAYA, June 1 — It is all systems go for the enforcement of the waste segregation programme.
Residents in six states and two federal territories were given a grace period since September last year before fines would be issued by Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) enforcement officers beginning today.
SWCorp deputy chief executive officer Mohd Pauze Mohmad Taha said the company had 600 officers nationwide and were working on hiring more staff.
“But as we have already identified areas that comply, this will not be a major hurdle as yet.”
He said from the estimated 350,000 households surveyed nationwide, 76 per cent were separating their waste.
“The remaining 24 per cent had not and they will be the focus of our enforcement efforts,” he added.
“We are going ‘live’ tomorrow with the issuing of compound fines for those who have yet to separate their waste into the necessary categories.”
Last September, the Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Ministry began enforcing Act 672 of the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007.
The Act makes it compulsory for residents to separate their solid wastes according to categories of paper, plastics and others or face fines between RM50 and RM500.
The programme will affect those living in Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, Perlis and Pahang.
It also included the introduction of 120 segregated waste trucks operated by Alam Flora, a concessionaire of SWCorp.
Mohd Pauze said the management of apartments, condominiums and other high-rise complexes would be responsible for their tenants.
“We will deal with the management board if tenants are found not complying with the programme. We will also prepare bins and other facilities to help them comply,” he said.
Azhar stressed the whole purpose of the segregation waste programmes was to encourage better behaviour and not to penalise the public.
“The feedback from the public has been positive and some have even chided us for not introducing the programme earlier,” he said.
“We need to move towards a greener Malaysia and increasing recycling rates will help reduce the strain on our landfill system and help lower the cost of raw materials.”
