BY JADE CHAN

A council health officer briefing Section 6, Bandar Bukit Mahkota residents on mosquitoes and the diseases the insect bring during the launch of the Go Green with 3R programme.

THE neighbourhood of Section 6, Bandar Bukit Mahkota, has been selected for a waste separation and recycling pilot project in the Kajang municipality.

Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) president Mohd Sayuthi Bakar announced this during the launch of the “Go Green with 3R” programme in the Bangi neighbourhood.

“This neighbourhood was selected because they have an active residents association (RA) and the residents regularly get together for community activities.

“MPKj previously tried implementing a similar programme for high-rise buildings, but it was unsuccessful as residents were uncooperative,” he said.

If this endeavour is successful, Mohd Sayuthi said the programme would be one of the biggest, in terms of scale, in Selangor, as there were more than 1,000 landed properties in the selected housing area.

“This will serve as an example to other neighbourhoods in the Kajang municipality.

“The project can be seen as a starting point for a more organised solid waste management system, to create awareness and understanding on waste management and recycling, and instil a sense of responsibility towards environmental conservation,” he said.

Mohd Sayuthi said MPKj also hoped to reduce the cost of waste disposal and public cleansing.

“About two-thirds of our annual budget go towards activities related to cleaning work and waste disposal, including paying contractors to collect and send waste to the Tanjung Dua Belas Landfill in Kuala Langat.

“In terms of waste disposal, it costs us RM36 per tonne of solid waste and RM30 per tonne of bulk waste.

“The practice of separating waste and recycling at home will reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and prolong the lifespan of the landfills,” he said, adding that according to national statistics, only 17.39% of Malaysians practised recycling.

MPKj will be providing 30 large bins for the pilot project in Section 6, Bandar Bukit Mahkota, and collect recyclable materials such as paper, glass and plastic every Monday.

It cost the council RM18,000 to purchase eight sets of 240-litre bins and two sets of 660-litre bins.

“Funds collected from this project will be split between MPKj to cover the cost of collection and the RA for its activities,” said Mohd Sayuthi.

“The bins will be placed at 13 strategic locations around the neighbourhood, such as at the two guardhouse posts, the RA cabin, playground and surau,” said Section 6 Bandar Bukit Mahkota RA chairman Datuk Mat Jim Wahab.

“We are hopeful that residents will give their full support to this project.

“Of course, it will take time and discipline for them to get used to practising the recycling habit at home.”

Mat Jim said funds received from the project would go towards funding activities such as the RA’s fun ride, Hari Raya gatherings and gifts for in-house competitions.