By Olivia Miwil
KOTA KINABALU: Comprehensive impact studies and policy reforms are crucial to addressing critical waste management issues in the Sabah state capital.
Datuk Jasnih Daya (Gagasan-Pantai Dalit) said the 46.5-hectare Kayu Madang landfill, the primary disposal site for the west coast, including Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran, Penampang, Putatan, and Kota Belud, receives about 800 tonnes of solid waste daily.
He said the facility, which replaced the Lokawi landfill in 1996, is nearing its maximum capacity and entering its final operational phase, placing immense strain on the state waste management system.
"The existing landfill site must be upgraded to a fully sanitary landfill system with proper gas control, leachate treatment, and systematic daily covering of waste," he said during the debate on the policy speech at the state legislative assembly here.
He said current disposal practices are still largely open or semi-sanitary, leading to persistent odour pollution caused by gases such as methane and hydrogen sulfide.
Weather conditions often carry these odours into nearby residential areas, affecting the quality of life for surrounding communities.
"Mandatory waste segregation must be implemented without delay to reduce the burden on landfill sites," he said, adding that such measures would significantly lower landfill volumes while improving recycling efficiency.
Jasnih urged the state government to plan for long-term solutions, including the development of new disposal sites and the exploration of waste-to-energy technologies.
Linking the issue to downstream impacts, he said poor waste management on land is contributing to growing pollution along the Mengkabung Gayang coastline in Tuaran, where plastic waste is accumulating.
Citing United Nations data, he said between 60 and 80 per cent of marine waste consists of plastic, while around 80 per cent of ocean pollution originates from land-based sources, often carried by rivers into the sea
He added that the situation is further compounded by inconsistent waste collection services in some coastal villages, forcing residents to resort to informal disposal methods such as open burning or dumping waste directly into waterways.
Jasnih said the consequences are already being felt, with fishermen facing higher operational costs due to damaged nets, while microplastics entering the marine food chain pose long-term health risks.
"Failure to act now will not only strain our waste systems but also affect livelihoods, public health and the sustainability of our environment," he said.
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