Field trip to Seelong landfill to be eye opener

Good system: Villagers should be made aware that the operation of the Seelong sanitary landfill in Kulai, Johor, is well managed.

BATU PAHAT: A field trip to visit an operating landfill in Kulai can be planned to bring villagers who are concerned about a proposed Bukit Payong landfill.

Councillor Abdullah Ishak said many villagers staying near Bukit Payong were against the project and wanted the project by the state government to stop.

“This may due to lack of information and understanding about the operation of a landfill and a field trip will bring textbook to life.

“The people need the facts and by bring them to see the operation of Seelong landfill in Kulai will help them to have a clearer picture to counter their worries,” said Abdullah at the Batu Pahat Municipal full board meeting here recently.

Abdullah said the Seelong landfill has a good management system in handling waste.

“If there are not explanations, the problems will not resolved,” he said, adding that the better understanding of a landfill would also prevent villagers from mislead by certain quarters.

Last week, a group of villagers from Kampung Mohd Noor held a protest against the proposed Bukit Payong landfill near their homes.

They gathered and carried banners with signs calling the government to scrap the plan. They group said they were afraid that the landfill would pollute the water, air and land.

They also claimed that they were not given much information on the operation of the landfill.

The 20mil facility — built on a 40ha plot — expected be ready by the end of next year.

Currently, all waste collection from the district were sent to the Simpang Renggam dumpsite, which was almost at its maximum capacity.

In a related development, Abdul-lah said the municipal council was seeking permissions from Muar Municipal Council and Labis District Council to allow waste from Batu Pahat to be disposed at their respective areas temporarily.

“We have problems sending the waste to the Simpang Renggam dumpsite because of landslide and damaged access road to the dumpsite. It needs time to repair.

“If we don’t dispose the waste fast enough it will accumulate and cause problem,” he said, adding that Batu Pahat produced between 150 and 200 metric tonnes of garbage everyday.