The three state governments that have been exempted from the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act can still opt to be part of the Act after it comes into force on Sept 1.
Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung said these states could agree to privatise solid waste collection and public cleaning as long as they abide by the terms and conditions under the Act.
“One of the terms and conditions is to have the fees collected from the public for solid waste collection through the assessment fees to be directed to the Federal Government,” he said.
Chor said the Penang, Selangor and Perak governments had been exempted from the Act as they had expressed their intention not to be part of it so that they could choose not to privatise such services.
“This means they will not be able to get financial assistance from the Federal Government to settle the bills for such services,” Chor said, adding that Perak is considering to be part of it when the Act is enforced.
In Selangor, the local authorities will take over public cleansing works from Alam Flora from Aug 1.
Alam Flora will continue to manage solid waste collection and disposal in the state.
Under the Act, solid waste management and public cleansing will be privatised and the three concessionaires involved will be subjected to a Key Performance Indicator system to ensure they live up to the required standards.
The central and east peninsular zones (Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu, excluding Selangor) will be overseen by Alam Flora Sdn Bhd; the north peninsular zone (Kedah and Perlis, excluding Penang and Perak) by Environment Idaman Sdn Bhd; and the south peninsular zone (Johor, Malacca and Negri Sembilan) by SWM Environment Sdn Bhd.
Chor said the Act would require households to separate and recycle their waste, but punishment would only be meted out in a couple of years to enable residents to get used to the idea.
Organic and household waste will be collected twice a week and bulk waste once a week.
