BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Borneo Bulletin/ANN): Residents in several neighbourhoods have expressed frustration over the failure of private rubbish collection companies to collect rubbish on time, saying missed collections and sudden schedule changes without notice are leaving homes with overflowing waste.
According to residents, companies often cite non-operational trucks as the reason for missed collections, a situation they say should not be passed on to paying clients.
The problem has been particularly severe in some areas, where services reportedly went on a complete halt for an entire week.
Customers still had to pay the full monthly fee even though no rubbish was collected for a week, which to them, is unfair and unacceptable.
“A broken-down truck is not our fault,” said one resident.
“They should have backup plans instead of leaving rubbish at our homes for days.”
The delayed collections have resulted in bins overflowing at homes, attracting stray dogs that rummage through the rubbish and scatter waste across the stretch of streets.
This has not only created an unpleasant environment but has also raised serious health concerns.
Health experts warned that uncollected waste can attract pests such as rats and flies, increasing the risk of disease and threatening the health and well-being of residents, particularly children and the elderly.
Residents are now calling on rubbish collection companies to act swiftly when operational challenges arise, communicate schedule changes in advance, and ensure reliable service to prevent further hygiene and environmental problems. – Borneo Bulletin/ANN
