MBI workers are trying their best to clear as many illegal dumping grounds as possible and have been successful most of the time.
IPOH City Council (MBI) has cleared 93% of the illegal dumpsites it identified in the city since 2020.
Ipoh mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin said the clearing activities were conducted in phases.
“There used to be 1,672 hotspots and as of July, only 120 such locations remain uncleared,” he said when contacted.
Among measures taken, he said, were the free bulk and garden waste collection services that started in 2021.
“We bought 17 new lorries for this service. It is functioning smoothly and we have been able to keep to the collection schedule.
“As of June this year, a total of 68,850 free rubbish bins have also been given out to residents,” he said, adding that MBI also distributed tens of thousands of flyers to homes and business premises informing them about proper domestic waste management.
Civic-minded residents taking part in a gotong-royong to clean up their neighbourhood. — Filepic
Rumaizi said that since 2021, 137,700 people had been educated on preserving the environment and the need to be responsible citizens.
“We have also built 13 domestic waste collection points at some villages that have contributed to reducing illegal dumpsites.
“We have also placed 569 ‘No Littering’ warning signboards at the hotspots,” he added.
Rumaizi said MBI’s anti-litter unit was strict and often successful in deterring indiscriminate dumping of rubbish.
“As of June this year, 189 compounds worth RM189,000 have been issued to offenders, with 59 compounds worth RM59,000 paid up,” he added.
In May this year, Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming had said that the government aimed to clear up 300 illegal dumpsites nationwide by the end of this year.
StarMetro recently checked several locations in the city and found piles of rubbish in some areas.
These included Taman Pakatan, Taman Silibin Ria, Lim Garden, Housing Trust, Kampung Paloh Light Industrial area, Bercham Light Industrial area and even in the city centre on Jalan Datuk Onn Jaafar.
An illegal dumpsite near houses in Hala Bercham Timur 3.
Residents’ woes
Farmer Marcus Pheong, 43, who lived in Taman Pakatan, said the pile of rubbish at Hala Bercham Timor 3 had been cleared many times but rubbish was dumped again at the same spot days later.
Pheong said that the rubbish pile, located a stone’s throw from his home, was an eyesore that made him uncomfortable to see every time he returned home after work.
“It has been an ongoing problem for about 20 years. The city council has cleared it away on several occasions after some complaints, but only for the rubbish to be dumped there again by unscrupulous folk,” said the father of one.
“One of my neighbours, whose house was nearest to the pile of rubbish, had even resorted to setting fire to the rubbish pile because of the stench it emits.
“I believe the rubbish, which included domestic waste, furniture and garden waste, are discarded by residents in the housing area,” he said.
He called for solutions by the authorities to put a stop to people throwing rubbish indiscriminately once and for all.
Even a sink has been thrown in this dumpsite at Persiaran Bercham Timor 6.
Pheong also said another location that has become a dumping ground was near his farm in Bandar Baru Putra.
“Old and broken furniture together with construction and garden waste can be found dumped by the road leading to my farm,” he said.
“Sometimes, broken glasses fall on the road. I worry my car tyres will get a puncture,” he said, adding that sometimes banana leaves and tree trunks were also dumped.
Sagadevan wants MBI to advise grass-cutting contractors to carry away the grass cuttings.Pheong said as the location was not in a heavily populated area and secluded, it was a “convenient” spot to dump waste.
“I hope the rubbish pile can be cleared or it will only become larger and spill over. It may then completely block off the access road to my farm.
“I also hope people can be more responsible and keep the environment clean,” he added.
Retired businesswoman Mel Lim, in her 60s, from Taman Silibin Ria, complained of two rubbish heaps on two parts of a small field near her home.
“Apart from food containers, there are also garden waste, plastic bags, mattresses and sofa.
“I used to do my early morning walks around the field, but I avoid it now for fear of rats and snakes.
“The domestic waste collection services here are always on schedule every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, so there shouldn’t be any issues,” added Lim who has been living in the residential area for more than 10 years.
She said there was another dumpsite along Jalan Raja Perempuan Mazwin in Taman Rishah, about 600m from her house.
“I use the road often to go to the eateries at First Garden. It used to be quite bad with the rubbish strewn all along the road,” she said, adding that a massive clean-up by the city council a few years ago improved the situation.
Ng wants enforcement to be beefed up further to catch culprits red-handed.However, she added that people continued to throw rubbish in the area.
“These people do not seem to fear being fined RM1,000 on the spot,” she added.
Lim Garden Residents Association vice-chairman K. Sagadevan said the number of dumpsites had dropped tremendously in the past seven years.
“You can still see bags of rubbish by the road occasionally despite the residents there being reminded constantly about the domestic and bulk waste collection schedules.
“The services provided by MBI have improved while the city councillor in charge of the area is also very responsive. We are happy to work with them,” he added.
With houses located at every corner, Sagadevan said it was not suitable to place dumpsters at these locations to resolve the illegal dumping issue.
“The residents will make noise if the dumpsters are put outside their homes.
Pheong: The pile near my home has been cleared many times but rubbish gets dumped again.“The best way is still to put rubbish bags outside homes and wait for the collectors,” he said, adding that the collection services are every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Sagadevan hoped the contractors hired by MBI to cut grass in the housing area would remove the waste.
“We have five fields here, they will come and cut the grass once every fortnight.
“They will, however, leave a bunch of cut grass heaped at a spot. This will encourage others to throw their domestic waste there,” he added.
Suggested solutions
Ipoh City Watch president Prof Dr Richard Ng said enforcement should be beefed up at the hotspots.
Those caught red-handed should be hauled to court or shamed publicly.
Rumaizi says free dustbins and flyers to educate residents helped reduce illegal dumping.“More CCTVs should also be installed around such areas to help catch the culprits.
“As a long-term plan, MBI should engage NGOs (non-govermental organisations) and Rukun Tetangga to implement recycling activities, involving the local community and schools.”
Ng said that in 2020 and 2021, many rubbish collection workers were down with Covid-19, while dumpsters used by contractors were not in working order, resulting in irregular rubbish collection.
“By the end of 2022, the city council started to provide dustbins to households in stages.
“Enforcement and penalties also increased and I noticed an improvement in services.”
Ng, who is a former city councillor, added that illegal dumping had stopped in Taman Ipoh Permai, Desa Tambun Indah, Taman Ipoh Perdana, Taman SPPK, Taman Perpaduan in Tambun, Taman Koperasi and in Kanthan.
“In these areas, warning signs with the higher fine amount were put up and surveillance cameras were installed.”
