H’ng (second from left) and representatives of various agencies at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Centre in Permatang Pauh. — Buletin Mutiara
PENANG through its two city councils – Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP) – will reintroduce its waste segregation at source policy.The state will also bring back initiatives to educate the community about correct waste separation at source.
Penang local government, town and country planning committee chairman Jason H’ng said the policy enforcement was scheduled to take place in July.
He said the initiative, launched in 2017, was actively promoted in residential areas.
However, the enforcement was halted when the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020.
“People have also slowly forgotten it.
“Now, we want to reactivate the educational campaign for waste segregation at source before enforcing the policy in July.
“Together with the local government, we hope the relevant non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will also collaborate to make the campaign a success,” H’ng said at Ampang Jajar Waste Transfer Station in Permatang Pauh, Buletin Mutiara reported.
H’ng was at the event to launch the groundbreaking ceremony of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Centre (ISWMC), which would start operation of processing domestic, garden and construction waste in February 2025.
The ISWMC would be managed by Greenviro Solutions Sdn Bhd.
H’ng said the ISWMC was the first in Malaysia to use domestic waste as the main material to produce methane in an anaerobic digester (AD).
“It is estimated that this facility can process 1,200 tons of waste per day and will reach its maximum capacity by 2040.
“With the establishment of ISWMC, the domestic waste sent to the Pulau Burung landfill can be reduced, thereby extending its lifespan,” he added.
Apart from the ISWMC, Ampang Jajar Cleaning Depot and MBSP’s Landscape Department Operations Office would also be built at the site.
Also present were MBSP mayor Datuk Azhar Arshad and Greenviro Solutions general manager Datuk Syamshuar Husin.
On a separate matter, H’ng said the state Planning Committee (SPC) would look into the objection raised by residents living in the Bukit Indera Muda neighbourhood against a proposed development in the Chinese cemetery area.
It was learned that the objection was submitted by Persatuan Keturunan Guang Dong Seberang Prai.
On the proposed construction of a workers’ dormitory in Bayan Lepas, H’ng said it would have to secure approval following social impact assessment and environmental impact assessment reports, and also adhere to site zoning regulations.
He said another workers’ dormitory in Bukit Tengah, which also received objections initially, had since shown positive outcome.
