90% of city folk yet to separate waste

Mohd Amin (second from left) being briefed on the 1S1T programme by Alam Flora operations general manager Darwishah Othman (right).

ONLY 10% of Kuala Lumpur folk are carrying out waste separation, according to Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation Federal Territories director Ismail Mohamed.

“So far, we have brought 39 cases to court, submitted 21 investigation papers and issued 34 notices of misconduct in waste separation.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) said it had plans to implement waste separation in all commercial and industrial districts, in addition to stepping up its awareness campaign among residents.

This was announced at the launch of the 1Supervisor 1Transformation Area (1S1T) programme at Kampung Malaysia Raya in Kuchai Lama by Kuala Lumpur mayor Tan Sri Mohd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz.

The initiative by Alam Flora Sdn Bhd involves plans to go beyond Alam Flora’s original job scope to brighten up commercial and residential areas.

It is a step for the waste management company to lead by example, acting as a reminder for the community on their shared responsibility to keep the neighbourhood vibrant.

A total of 115 commercial and residential areas will be spruced up, spread out in 59 areas in Kuala Lumpur, six in Putrajaya and another 50 in Pahang.

“It is our collective responsibility to take care of the area because right now, the cost of rubbish collection is RM250mil a year.

“Currently, 2,500 to 3,000 tonnes of rubbish are collected daily, and this cost, including other aspects of public cleansing, will increase if no positive change is implemented now.

Making comparisons with the practice in Japan, where residents keep their own neighbourhoods clean, Amin Nordin said it might take Kuala Lumpur 10 years to get there, but he expressed belief that it could be achieved.

“So the collaborative programme between DBKL and Alam Flora is to provide awareness to residents that keeping the city clean is part of their responsibility.

“Through 1S1T, we will hold a competition among the areas, so the values and habit will eventually spread across the Federal Territory.

The programme began in July, giving Kampung Malaysia Raya a makeover of its children’s playground.

Works to transform the areas through supervised service will be done in four phases within a year.

Kampung Malaysia Raya Residents Association vice-chairman Basaruddin Mohd Tapi said support for the programme among the village’s 2,000 to 3,000 residents had been average.

“The programme can improve the minds and attitudes of the villagers to care for the cleanliness of the village and to continue maintaining it.

“Waste separation is still being carried out in the area, but awareness about the programme and what it is for is still very low.

“The important thing is that each individual in the village must be educated and increase their awareness on not just average hygiene but cleanliness of a better standard,” said Basaruddin.