Tuaran district council clarifies message in trash bin circular

KOTA KINABALU: A Tuaran district council spokesperson has refuted a viral message forbidding the public from throwing rubbish into bins provided by the district council.

"What is not allowed is for villagers to bring plastic bags with trash from their homes to throw into these bins as such practices have caused insufficient space for shop owners and public users," said the staff member who did not want to be named.

"But if you are just here and you have rubbish in your hand, of course you can still use the bins provided," he added.

Attempts to contact Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Madius Tangau on the matter are continuing.

The circular had gone viral on Facebook and WhatsApp, with netizens questioning the logic behind the decision that only shop owners were allowed to use the bins as they paid monthly taxes to the council.

Patrick Pat asked "why is it getting weirder?" while Victor Poit said "sure thing, no place to throw rubbish, later will be thrown into rivers".

Several also poked fun at the circular, saying things like "the only place in the world where it is prohibited to throw rubbish is a public rubbish bin" and "do not throw rubbish into bins that are provided by the government".