GEORGE TOWN – As an interim plan, the Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP) is expected to take over management of the state’s Pulau Burung landfill, which was hit by a massive fire in January, when the contractor’s term expires next month.
The council has extended the current site operator’s contract, which expires on April 5, to May 20.
MBSP will take over the waste treatment there after that date until an alternative contractor is found, said its councillor David Marshel.
He said the next operator must be a company that is familiar and possesses the technology and equipment to treat the waste.
Dumping waste at the landfill is also not healthy in the long run, as methane gas is still bad for the workers at the landfill and the residents living around the area.
“One of the best options is to have an incinerator. However, there are objections from non-government organisations towards incinerators,” he said.
Marshel told The Vibes that the interim plan was decided during the council meeting yesterday.
Penang Island generates 900 tonnes of waste daily, all of which is transported by trucks and barges to the landfill in Pulau Burung.
Meanwhile, Seberang Prai generates 1,600 tonnes of waste daily.
“MBSP cannot straight away take over the waste treatment, as it needs about RM30 million to RM40 million in overhead expenses. However, it would be wise to engage a contractor to handle the job rather than MBSP handling it, as there is a lot of knowledge, skill, equipment, and technology involved.
We may call for a tender for a short term of three years to handle the job. We know three years is a short term, as we prefer a 10-year period which is good for the contractors to invest in the business,” he said.
He claimed that the former contractor was supposed to introduce new technology and more equipment in the waste treatment, but failed to implement these things during its tenure.
Some 11ha of the 33ha Pulau Burung landfill was hit by a massive fire on January 12. It lasted for almost three weeks until it was fully extinguished on January 30.
Several families around the area were evacuated for their safety, while 10 schools in the vicinity were ordered to close as the air quality in the area was at unhealthy levels.
It was declared a level-one disaster area based on the National Security Council’s directive after the fire polluted surrounding areas and posed a risk to health. – The Vibes, April 19, 2022
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