GEORGE TOWN – Penang is struggling to cope with the growing rate of open burning, said state Environment Department (DoE) director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab.
Speaking at a brief dialogue session with the Tanjung Bungah Residents Association (TBRA) yesterday, she explained that the waste from open burning include those from households, agriculture and, more worryingly, electronic or e-waste.
“Many people are ignorant (of the fact) that the burning of e-waste is toxic to both humans and the environment because of the electrical wiring and components involved,” said Sharifah, adding that last year, Penang had the highest number of reports lodged over open burning.
“It is good that there is awareness, but it is also a setback because people continue to engage in activities which are harmful. We need to stop it.”
The state’s DoE is now embarking on community outreach with a key performance index target of one residential neighbourhood or village per month.
The objective is to gain its cooperation in reducing open burning, while also encouraging waste segregation and inculcating a culture of recycling as well as reusing.
Sharifah said the outreach will involve residents’ associations such as in Tanjung Bungah and the villages’ security and safety committees.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia president Meenaskhi Raman, who is also a former president of the TBRA, urged the DoE to work with the city councils here to penalise ratepayers who do not segregate their household wastes according to plastics, paper, steel or food.
Regarding this matter, Sharifah said that the DoE will lend its support to communities to engage in the segregation practises with the ultimate aim of generating zero waste and encouraging more composting of organic materials such as food.
Food waste is also another problem which the state faces.
Among those present at the dialogue were Penang Forum members Kam Suan Pheng and Lim Mah Hui, TBRA chairman Zulfikar Ali Shri Abdul Aziz as well as TBRA committee member Agnes James.
Zulfikar said that the TBRA wants to set up a 24-hour daily collection centre for e-waste and to collaborate with the DoE on introducing zero waste practices here.
He called for sustainable practices to be fully adopted here instead of just preaching about them only. – The Vibes, February 27, 2022
