Three million households that have settled their house assessments will be presented with free garbage bins on wheels until August 2014, said Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung.
He said the bins would be supplied by three companies that had been awarded contracts for garbage and solid waste collection in Kedah, Perlis, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Pahang, Negri Sembilan, Malacca and Johor.
Distribution of the bins would first be carried out in the state capitals, followed by municipal council and district council areas, he said.
“The free garbage bin is in line with the enforcement of the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672) on Sept 1 this year,” he told reporters after launching the distribution and the toll free line for Aduansisa at Taman Lumba Kuda, here on Saturday.
According to him, the three concessionaires, Environment Idaman Sdn Bhd for Kedah and Perlis, Alam Flora Sdn Bhd for Kuala Lumpur, Putrayaja and Pahang, and SWM Environment Sdn Bhd for Negri Sembilan, Malacca and Johor would follow a schedule in providing the bins.
“The bin has a capacity of 120 litres, as set by the ministry, and costs RM120 a unit; 300,000 units will be distributed in Kedah and 30,000 in Perlis until August 2014,” said Chor, who is also the MP for Alor Setar.
He hoped the recipients would utilise the bin with care and to report to the police or the company if it went missing, for the case to be investigated based on the serial number.
Homeowners in the seven states can use the newly launched toll free line to report on a missing or damaged bin, he added.
Meanwhile, Environment Idaman Sdn Bhd director, Azmanuddin Haq Ahmad who was also present at the function said the bin would ensure a systematic garbage collection as well as reduce garbage heaps and illegal garbage dumping.
He said the company would be distributing circulars on how to manage solid waste at home to preserve the environment.
