Recycling centres turned dumpsite

Malaysians left piles of unwanted items in front of the Bukit Jelutong Recycling Centre in Shah Alam during the MCO.

SOME Malaysians have shown their ugly side during the movement control order (MCO) by dumping their unwanted items at recycling centres.

Volunteers from organisations running recycling centres were rudely surprised by the piles of trash in front of the centres, which were closed in accordance to the MCO.

Tzu Chi Foundation Malaysia Taman Desa Recycling Centre coordinator Francis Tan noticed the rubbish piles when he passed by the centre.

He had also received messages over his cellphone about similar condition at other centres.

“Even though all recycling centres put up notices not to bring their recyclable items during this time, people ignored the notices, ” he said.

Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah said large amounts of rubbish were dumped at the front gate of Tzu Chi recycling centre in Taman Universiti Indah, Seri Kembangan these past weeks since the MCO started.

KDEB workers clearing the mountain of rubbish left at the front gate of Tzu Chi recycling centre in Taman Universiti Indah, Seri Kembangan.

“This kind of uncivilised and selfish behaviour is totally unacceptable, ” he said after visiting the site.

He thanked the team from Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad (KDEB) Waste Management Sdn Bhd for their swift action to clean up the site.

State local government, public transport and new village development committee chairman Ng Sze Han said there was no need for illegal dumping, including discarding unwanted items at recycling centres, as KDEB continued to provide rubbish collection and cleaning services in Selangor as usual during the MCO.

Tzu Chi Foundation Malaysia environmental protection team lead Goh Suz Suz said that with the MCO in place and throughout its extension, the foundation had complied with the government’s directives.

“All activities at the centres have been suspended for the duration.

The recycling centre in Sri Muda, Shah Alam, is not spared either by Malaysians who dumped their unwanted items there,

“Hence Tzu Chi volunteers are unable to reach out to external parties for collection of the recyclables nor can we be at the respective recycling centres to receive and handle the items.

“We appreciate the public’s continuous support to Tzu Chi and wish to ask for their kind understanding that, during this period, help us by not sending the recyclables to our centres.

“We will resume our operation when the MCO is lifted, ” she said.

She added, “As the world comes to a standstill, let us continue to pray that the pandemic will end soon.

“In the meantime, continue to help the environment by conserving water and using reusable containers for takeaway food. And if possible, consume less meat.”