Jamaliah: 30,000 businesses need to register for ZDP licence.
SINCE June 20, Selangor has implemented a Zero Discharge Policy (ZDP) and the state government expects businesses under 13 sectors to register their activities with Selangor Water Management Board (Luas).
Selangor was the first to implement such a policy, said state public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin at a dialogue with stakeholders at Shah Alam Convention Centre.
Among sectors covered by the policy are aquaculture (involving fresh water, brackish and saltwater), development or land work, poultry, animal farms, industrial vehicle cleaning, sand mining, slaughterhouses, industrial, recreational activity, sewer management, solid waste management and water services.
Jamaliah said some 30,000 businesses from 13 sectors were required to register for the ZDP licence.
“We are taking the soft approach and despite the policy being implemented in June, we are giving stakeholders time to register.
“These businesses will be required to pay a fee based on their discharge levels,” she said.
The policy aims to control industries and compel them to recycle their effluents instead of dumping the waste into drains, rivers and water sources.
The policy comes under Enactment Luas 1999 (Discharge of Return Water and Entry or Discharge of Waste and Pollutants (Selangor) Licensing Regulations).
“We have hearings with the stakeholders. Luas is sending out letters and will visit some of the businesses.
“We won’t enforce the policy yet against those who have not registered,” Jamaliah said.
She added that eventually those who do not register could face fines of up to RM50,000 or jailed not more than two years.
“Up to Sept 17, a total of 215 premises have applied for the ZDP licence.
“We hope at least 3,000 premises will be registered by year end.”
