BY QISHIN T
Federal Territory Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation enforcement department to prepare the first batch of compounds to be issued for those who failed to separate their rubbish.
HOUSEHOLDS who do not separate their trash will be facing the first round of fines as enforcement agencies are in the process of preparing the first batch of compounds to be issued with regard to failing to adhere to the mandatory waste separation ruling in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
Federal Territory Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) senior enforcement officer Mohd Hidy Md Dzahir said compound notices would be issued soon following the implementation of the mandatory waste separation in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya since June 1 this year.
Mohd Hidy said the compounds were not issued immediately as it would take about 23 days to be processed and would be sent to the offending household within seven days.
Landed households who fail to pay the compound – which is RM50 for the first offence, RM100 for the second and RM500 for the third onwards – could face court action and be fined up to RM1,000.
“Awareness programmes about this were carried out since September last year so we hope people can separate their trash themselves. However, we still want to focus on education before resorting to fines,” he told reporters.
He said residents must ensure those claiming to be SWCorp enforcement officers were in uniform and produced their authority cards to ensure their authenticity.
“We don’t want irresponsible people to take advantage of this policy to commit crimes,” he said.
Mohd Hidy said SWCorp was in the process of putting up signboards with waste pick-up schedules in neighbourhoods, and would display the schedules on their website too.
Federal Territories MCA chief Datuk Yew Teong Look urged SWCorp not to start issuing compounds for now as many were still unsure about the rules of mandatory trash separation.
He said MCA would work together with NGOs at Wangsa Maju and other parts of KL to do awareness campaigns in schools.
“We believe it’s more effective to start in schools and instil in our children the importance of trash separation. It is important for ensuring cleanliness and future sustainability,” he said, during a trash separation briefing at the Section 2 market in Wangsa Maju on Saturday.
Wangsa Maju parliamentary information officer Norizah Jadid said during Ramadan, solid waste disposal had spiked by 20%, from 2,500 tonnes a day to 3,000 tonnes.
“This shows it is increasingly important that we separate our trash,” she said.
Wangsa Maju 1Malaysia Community (K1M) manager Lim Cheong Hock said it has been ingrained not to separate trash, with the public assuming garbage was not something valuable.
“We used to think garbage as stuff we didn’t want. It’s out of control, people are throwing clothes, glass bottles and paper,” he said, adding that the authorities should monitor the situation closely to ensure Wangsa Maju would be a more comfortable, clean and beautiful place to live in.
Under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007, separating solid waste became mandatory in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Malacca, Perlis, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Kedah and Johor effective June 1.
