Confusion over collection day for separate waste

A place for everything: An Alam Flora Sdn Bhd staff putting recyclable items into an Alam Flora segregation truck.

MAHENDRAN Gnanakuru, 51, has been separating his waste for the past three years and does not find it a hassle.

The Bangsar Baru resident says he has long separated the basics like paper, plastic and tin.

“I used to collect recyclable items to be given to some shelters.

“Now Alam Flora trucks come once every week to collect them which is more convenient,” he said.

Mahendran says it is still a learning process for himself and other residents to separate their waste properly.

“But it is doable. This step has been long overdue to help our environment.

“It will take awhile for full compliance by the public but the implementation is a good start,” he said.

The visit to his house was part of Alam Flora Sdn Bhd’s programme to educate the public on solid-waste separation.

Effective Sept 1, households in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya as well as six states – Pahang, Johor, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Perlis and Kedah – are required to separate their trash according to types under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672).

Bangsar Baru Residents’ Association president Datuk George Joseph says some of the complaints he has received since the implementation of waste separation on Sept 1 is about the confusion on how to go about it.

“Most people think they have to use different coloured bins and plastic bags, which isn’t the case.

“Alam Flora held a detailed briefing and demonstration on how to go about it,” he said.

Unfortunately not all the residents turned up for the briefing held last Sunday.

George said each house should have sent a representative to clear the confusion and take the opportunity to ask Alam Flora questions regarding the exercise.

After the briefing to the residents, Alam Flora chief executive officer Mohd Zain Hassan said the implementation of separation of waste has been good so far.

Mohd Zain said Alam Flora had collected about 18 tonnes of recyclable items in a 10-day period from Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Pahang since Sept 1.

“If you ask me, the number is quite small but it’s a good baby step for 10 days,” he said.

He said some of the complaints they received from the public are usually about the confusion on the collection days and how to properly separate the items such as aluminium foil and plastic.

Mohd Zain also said they have 120 segregation trucks going around Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Pahang to collect the separated waste.

Mohd Zain said Alam Flora is in talks with the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) about the proposal to provide the public with biodegradable plastic bags.

“At the moment, we encourage the public to use their own plastic bags.

“Biodegradable bags would be ideal because they take only two weeks to a month to decompose,” he said.

He explained that, once a week, Alam Flora collects recyclable waste, garden waste and bulk waste such as old furniture. Domestic waste is collected twice a week.

“Batteries and clinical waste can be put into the ‘others’ bag for recyclable items,” he said.

For more information on waste separation, go http://www.kpkt.gov.my/separationatsource.