AN UNLICENSED recycling facility located near the Mahkota Industrial Park in Beranang was found to be the cause of odour pollution in Sungai Semenyih at 1.40am Monday (July 28) morning.
The incident required the Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) to issue a Code Yellow, signifying a potential threat to water quality and treatment plant operations. The odour which had a strength equivalent to 10 TON required the release of 360 MLD from the Semenyih Dam to dilute.
From an official statement issued by Selangor public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin, it was revealed that waste from plastic recycling activities had spilled from the facility’s bulk containers.
This was discovered following investigations by LUAS and Air Selangor.
The facility has been ordered to cease operations and clean up the spilled waste at all affected locations immediately.
It will also face action for polluting water sources by LUAS, which has opened an investigation paper under Section 79(4) of the LUAS Enactment 1999 against the premises. If found guilty, they can be fined up to RM100,000, imprisoned for up to three years, or both.
Additionally, there is a further fine of RM3,000 for each day the offence continues after a compliance notice has been served.
At the same time, the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) has issued a compound under By-Law 11 of the Collection, Disposal, and Disposal of Waste By-Law 2007. As the premises is unlicensed, the council has taken measures to seize the recycling facility.
When contacted, Association of Water and Energy Research president Piarapakaran Subramaniam said in lieu of the repeated occurrences of water pollution incidences, more proactive action is needed to address the issue.
“There is a need to build a database of high risk pollution areas so that the information can be used in coming up with preventive measures,” said Piarapakaran.
He also stressed that investigations should not just stop after the odour pollution has been diluted.
“The more important question is, what was the chemical compound and how long has the facility been releasing it with a lower or undetectable 'TON' value. Some chemicals have accumulative characteristics in the human body and will give a negative impact once it reaches a certain level,” he said.
In her statement, Jamaliah stressed that the Selangor government, together with LUAS and relevant authorities will not hesitate to take stern action against those who pollute water sources.
