By Wong Shu Qi, State Assemblywoman of Senai, Johor
It’s a great leap for the waste solution concessionaire to start implementing waste segregation at source. Yet, the private concessionaire and government have neglected the most crucial part of waste segregation that is collection of food waste. Without a specific plan to solve food waste that constitutes half of Malaysian waste, the waste segregation and waste solution is incomplete.
SWM is a private concessionaire that charges PPSPPA and local government by the weight of waste it collects and processes at landfill. Therefore, it must be government to take initiative to ensure the concessionaire to reduce waste.
Otherwise, private concessionaire is more than happy to collect more waste and dump it at the landfill since the more that people dump, the more that concessionaire earns.
Nevertheless, I’m glad to hear that Southern Waste Management will expand the waste segregation practices to another 7 municipalities including Pasir Gudang, Kota Tinggi, Kluang, Simpang Renggam, Segamat, Yong Peng and Labis.
The 2+1 waste segregation has been implemented in certain areas while public has not informed about the result of the new policy yet.
It will be very encouraging if SWM discloses the recycle rate monthly to stimulate more recycling activities taken part by public.
Second, we must not ignore the fact that half our solid waste everyday is actually food waste. Without specific solution to reduce and recycle food waste, the waste segregation practices will not get the final result we plan to achieve.
Hence, SWM must disclose the way they handle food waste if every household segregate it. If food waste is still dumped into landfill, then it is meaningless to request people to segregate food waste from other waste.
Furthermore, SWM must improve the collection of food waste. Due to the tropical climate, Malysian’s food waste is always linked to unpleasant smell especially if it is not collected after one day, or even half day to certain extend.
No adjustment or improvement on food waste collection will deter public from segregate food waste as well.
