Selangor and Penang have been urged to privatise their solid waste management, as had been done by the other states and the Federal Territories in peninsular Malaysia under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Act.
Perak had also recently agreed to privatise its solid waste management and be regulated by the Act by the end of the year.
Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heungurged Selangor and Penang to do so as soon as possible to ensure good public health.
The Act provides for, among others, the separation of wastes, storage, collection, transportation, processing, recycling and disposal.
The Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya as well as Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu are supervised by Alam Flora Sdn Bhd; Kedah and Perlis by Environment Idaman Sdn Bhd and Johor, Malacca and Negri Sembilan by SWM Environment Sdn Bhd.
“The privatisation of solid waste management will not incur any additional charge for consumers as the Federal Government will bear all the extra costs,” Chor said after presenting mobile bins to residents in Taman Desa here yesterday.
Three million units of mobile bins will be distributed in stages to residents and business owners in all local councils to improve solid waste management efficiency.
Chor said the first phase from Sept 1 involved the distribution of bins to residents under the jurisdiction of Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the various city councils.
“The second phase under the municipal councils will be done by Sept 1 next year and for district councils, from Sept 1, 2014,” he said, adding that all bins came with a cover and were able to prevent leaking from leachate.
Chor said owners of landed properties would get a 120-litre bin each while those who lived in high-rise buildings would be given either a 60-litre or 110-litre bin each and commercial property owners would receive a 240-litre bin each.
