Mounds of plastic create dengue scare for neighbours

GEORGE TOWN: Mounds of plastic sat on the ground in one illegal plastic recycling centre in Jelutong for the past year and created a dengue scare for neighbours.

Although the operator was taken to court and given until next month to shut down, a neighbour said “business was booming” for the centre.

“I am tired of complaining. Every day around 10 big lorries go in and out of our residential neighbourhood because of the centre,” Yeoh Chye Huat, 58, said.

He said the lorries carried huge amounts of plastic and paper into the centre where they are cleaned, sorted and resold.

“It is such a busy operation; non-stop activities,” he said yesterday.

In July, The Star had highlighted the residents’ complaints.

Yeoh had previously lodged a report with Penang Island City Council and after a check, found mosquitoes breeding at the recycling centre.

Sungai Pinang assemblyman Lim Siew Khim said after being compounded, the operator was taken to court.

“He appealed for time to move his operations and he was given until next month.

“We will check on the centre and if it is still operating next month, I will ask the city council to take further action,” Lim said.