BY DIYANA AZIZ

THE frequency of domestic waste collection will be increased to seven days a week at low-cost flats and public housing schemes in Petaling Jaya.

These areas will also be provided with free bulk waste collection services by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).

In the past, waste was collected only six days a week.

Petaling Jaya mayor Mohd Azizi Mohd Zain said this was to accommodate the waste generated in the densely populated areas.

“We believe there is a need to increase the frequency of garbage collection there because there is a lot of domestic waste being generated.

“Each unit probably has about six people in the family. Other than collecting domestic waste, we will also start collecting bulk waste there, which we did not do before,” he said.

Mohd Azizi said the state government had allocated RM1mil to MBPJ to provide free rubbish bins at selected neighbourhoods.

“We managed to distribute some 9,000 rubbish bins bought with the state allocation and

distributed it in neighbourhoods with rubbish disposal problem.”

He said this at the launch of the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleanliness (JPSPPA) MBPJ Public and Domestic Waste Contractors Basic Course in Pullman Hotel Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

The course was attended by managers, supervisors and employees of the appointed waste contractors.

The objective of the course was to improve the professionalism and skills of the waste collection contractors.

MBPJ also welcomed the 17 newly appointed waste collection contractors who will start work from Aug 1.

The appointed contractors will serve the council for two years and will be given an extra year if they maintain good ratings.

However, the council will terminate contractors who do not comply with the guidelines after issuing several warnings.

“When they do not perform, we will warn them. Repeat offenders without a valid reason will be terminated.

“We appointed four first-time contractors because we want to give the newcomers a chance to shine.

“We vetted the applications thoroughly before appointing them. We had to look into aspects such as their machinery capability and track record to ensure we are getting the best contractors on board,” he said.

The frequency of domestic waste collection at landed properties would remain at three times per week.

When asked about the issue of illegal waste dumping, the mayor said letters would be issued to the management of the industrial areas and shopping centres to register their private waste collectors with MBPJ.

“This is important to combat illegal dumping. The private contractors are mostly hired by shopping complexes and factory owners.

“But to cut costs, these contractors will dump the waste at illegal spots such as riverbanks,” said Mohd Azizi, who would consider installing GPS tracking on the waste collection lorries.

“When matters are serious, we might just implement the GPS system to make sure these lorries arrive at the proper waste disposal centres,” he said.