Sabah to look at waste separation by-law to cut KK landfill volume

A by-law on waste segregation could help reduce up to 40 per cent of rubbish being thrown into Kayu Madang landfill, said Sabah Law and Native Affairs Assistant Minister Janie Lasimbang. -- NSTP Archive

By Olivia Miwil - August 29, 2019 @ 3:32pm

KOTA KINABALU: A by-law on waste segregation could help reduce up to 40 per cent of rubbish being thrown into Kayu Madang landfill, said Sabah Law and Native Affairs Assistant Minister Janie Lasimbang.

On average, she said about 800 tonnes of waste from the state capital and other parts of Sabah's west coast went into the landfill everyday.

Janie said she is looking at proposing a waste management by-law in the hope that it would contribute towards a better and cleaner environment.

For the time being, she urged everyone, including the local councils, to separate all recyclable wastes before sending them to the landfill.

Since June 1, 2016, the Federal government has started to enforce waste separation rules under Act 672 of the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007.

The Act makes it compulsory for residents in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, Perlis and Pahang to separate their solid wastes according to categories of paper, plastics and others or face fines between RM50 and RM500.

“For me, the environment is very important, which is one of my key campaign promises. Let’s find ways to recycle our waste instead of just disposing of it,” she said during a recent anti-litter campaign here, adding that it is everyone’s responsibility to preserve the environment.

Meanwhile, at a recent launch of Kota Kinabalu City Hall’s 'KK Moving Forward' initiative, mayor Datuk Nordin Siman said the authority would focus on having clean, green and livable city, as well as innovative business environment.

As for the Kota Kinabalu Green City Action Plan, he added that the blueprint would involved proposal on several main projects including on solid waste management by having a material recovery facility at Kayu Madang landfill to segregate waste.

"Among them, KK City Hall would focus on the management of solid waste including having a material recovery facility at Kayu Madang landfill." he added.