Workers throwing the collected trash into dump trucks.
KOTA KINABALU: An action plan is being mulled to address indiscriminate rubbish dumping including those throwing trash into rivers, seas and non-designated areas, says the Kota Kinabalu City Hall.
The City Hall said the issue of trash pollution is on the rise and has to be tackled holistically with the cooperation from all parties, including the public.
It said awareness programmes must also be enhanced to educate the people on indiscriminate dumping, resulting in pollution.
To address this problem, the City Hall said it would install rubbish traps in critical areas around the city.
Trash washed up on the shores and close to jetties, as well as ferry terminals are mainly from water villages.
Workers cleaning the sea banks of trash in the city.
It said that the change of wind direction in March could have also contributed to the amount of trash washing up in these areas.
City Hall officials conducted several rounds of trash collection thereafter with over 7.5 tonnes of rubbish collected from these areas, including the Jesselton Point ferry terminal and the wet market in the city, last month.
“We will also be installing rubbish traps in critical areas such as Kampung Numbak and the Saga squatter water village in the city, and identify suitable cleaning boats to carry out cleaning works at sea,” it said in a statement on Wednesday (April 3).
These cleanup works are done by the sea and river cleaning unit under the City Hall’s Solid Waste Management Department, together with appointed concessionaires around the city.
Workers cleaning the sea banks of trash in the city.
Cleanup works will be carried out according to schedules, it said.
The issue of indiscriminate dumping of rubbish has been highlighted numerous times, both by locals and foreigners, who visited Sabah.
