GEORGE TOWN: It took six truckloads to remove a total of 4,440kg of garbage piled up inside the compound of a single-storey house in the southwest district here.
Some 20 workers from the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) were dispatched to clear the site at 8.30am on Thursday (Feb 6).
By the time they finished at 1.30pm, the resident, who had been living among the towering heaps of garbage, was fined RM2,021.74 by the council for cleaning, transport, and disposal of the waste.
According to an MBPP statement, enforcers acted based on complaints from neighbours.
"The resident claimed the waste was usually categorised by value and set aside for sale to recycling centres. However, due to deteriorating health, managing the accumulated waste became impossible, yet the quantity continued to increase daily.
"This situation raised serious concerns among local residents about safety and public health, particularly the risk of dengue outbreaks.
"Acting on complaints and investigations, the southwest district Health Department issued a notice under Section 8 of the Destruction of Disease-Bearing Insects Act 1975 to the resident on Oct 7, 2024.
"Despite this, the condition of the premises continued to deteriorate, leading to the need for enforcement action," the council stated.
The MBPP deployed 20 personnel to collect all waste posing a risk of being a breeding ground for disease-carrying insects.
A warning was also issued to the resident to cease bringing in more waste and to dispose of all remaining waste at the premises immediately.
