Buntong and Lim Garden residents learning how to make compost from household food waste.
THE Solid Waste Management and Public Cleanliness Act 2007 in Perak could be implemented this year.
Perak Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Rusnah Kassim said she has set up a meeting with the Housing and Local Government Minister to discuss the agreement within the next few weeks and hoped to have it signed “soon”.
Rusnah said there were still some terms that needed to be sorted out before the agreement is signed.
“We may go with privatisation.
“However, we want to ensure that the agreement between the Federal and state would not burden the people or the local council workers,” she said after the launch of the Community Recycling Projects for Lim Garden and Buntong at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Buntong last Saturday.
Rusnah said the state, Solid Waste Management and Public Cleanliness Corporation (SWCorp), solid waste management company Environment Idaman Sdn Bhd (E-Idaman) and the Federal Government have already met and discussed the terms of the agreement.
Rusnah (second from left) launching the Community Recycling Project for Buntong and Lim Garden. With her are SWCorp Perak director Fatimah Ahmad (left) and Dr Ng (second from right).
“We felt that 21 years is too long for the agreement.
“We want to review the solid waste management company’s performance every three years,” she said.
Rusnah added that she has checked out E-Idaman’s performance in Kedah.
“The feedback was positive.
“The cleanliness level has improved considerably,” she said, adding that the company has been approved by the Federal Government to service states in the northern region including Perak, Perlis, Kedah and Penang.
Ipoh City Watch president Prof Dr Richard Ng said it was of utmost importance that the state privatises solid waste management.
Dr Ng said the local council lacked the expertise in garbage collection.
The residents signing the recycling campaign banner.
“The Ipoh City Council does not have enough garbage trucks.
“Contracted garbage collectors will not pick up garden waste, making it an ongoing issue,” he said.
“People need to fork out their own money to have the garden waste collected when complaints are made to the city council and this is unfair as people are already paying taxes,” he added.
Dr Ng said the city council did not have enough enforcement officers to go around to deal with those who dispose of garbage indiscriminately.
“The state needs to seriously consider privatisation.
“Once the issue with garbage, drainage and grass is solved, the city council can focus more on greening and developing the city,” he said.
“And, the people will not blame the state government for these issues anymore,” he added.
Rusnah lauded the community recycling project and said people should start learning about garbage separation.
She also said that Pasir Pinji and Manjoi could be the next areas to take on the project.
“I’ve spoken to the Pasir Pinji assemblyman about the recycling project.
“Pasir Pinji is also part of Ipoh and I think the general cleanliness of the area is also important,” she said.
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