SWCorp enforcement officers patrolling Kepong Entrepreneurs Park to deter culprits from dumping waste indiscriminately in the area. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
OWNERS of premises operating at Kepong Entrepreneurs Park in Kepong and Pusat Bandar Utara in Selayang, Kuala Lumpur, have been given until year end to appoint a contractor to dispose of solid waste in the commercial area.
Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) deputy chief executive officer Zulkifli Tamby Chik said this following a new ruling to regulate waste management for commercial, industrial and institutional premises since March 2020.
“Known as the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Regulations (Scheme for commercial, industrial and institutional waste) 2018, it has been enforced in seven states that come under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672).
“These states are Kedah, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Perak and Perlis,” he said.
Zulkifli said while the regulations had already been enforced on heavy industries, SWCorp was currently looking at doing the same for smaller commercial and industrial premises that produce a lot of waste.
“For Kuala Lumpur, we are starting with Kepong Entrepreneurs Park and Pusat Bandar Utara, which are home to several hundred businesses and small industries.
“Premises owners have a two-month grace period to appoint their contractors as enforcement of the rule will start next year,” he said during a town hall session with premises owners from both areas at Jinjang Utara community hall, off Jalan Besar Kepong, Kuala Lumpur.
Under the 2018 regulation, owners of commercial, industrial and institutional premises must hire a licensed waste collection contractor to dispose of their waste.
Premises owners also need to prepare a container to store the waste and keep a record of the collection from licensed collectors.
Businesses at Kepong Entrepreneurs Park have been plagued by the indiscriminate dumping of solid waste in back lanes and public parking spots.
Different approaches such as putting refuse bins and enforcement activities were not effective in solving the problem.
Zulkifli explained that before the regulation was gazetted in August 2018, industrial premises had to appoint their own waste contractor.
“However, carrying out enforcement was difficult as there was no written regulation at the time.
“With this regulation, we hope it can prevent illegal dumping in industrial areas.”
Zulkifli also cautioned premises owners that some waste produced by commercial businesses might be considered industrial waste.
“If that happens, they need to appoint contractors to handle the waste.
‘’It depends on the type of waste and if it exceeds 120 litres, it will be considered as industrial waste,” he said.
According to the regulation, offenders can be compounded no less than RM5,000 or fined no less than RM10,000 for each offence.
Meanwhile, Kepong Community Service Centre head Yee Poh Ping said premises owners felt that having to appoint contractors for waste collection would burden them.
“They say that since they pay the annual assessment tax to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), it should include waste collection services.
“There are about 600 premises owners there and each year, they have to pay several thousand ringgit.
“We are suggesting that SWCorp provide door-to-door collection service as the amount of rubbish generated is not that much,” he said.
SWCorp enforcement officers patrolling Kepong Entrepreneurs Park to deter culprits from dumping waste indiscriminately in the area. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
Zulkifli urges premises owners to follow the regulations that require commercial and industrial areas to arrange for solid waste collection.
