A screengrab from the viral TikTok video showing the floating trash in the waterftont.
KOTA KINABALU: City Hall (DBKK) has embarked on a three-pronged campaign involving waste management, awareness campaigns and application of technology to tackle the longstanding issue of floating rubbish in waters off the state capital.
It has also swung into action over a video by a travel content creator about floating rubbish from a popular waterfront in the city.
In a statement, DBKK through its Solid Waste Management Department acknowledged the video that circulated Sunday (Nov 25) about trash in the water near the Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal.
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“As an immediate response to address the issue (at Jesselton Point), DBKK has mobilised personnel and boats to begin the cleanup of floating and stranded waste in the area starting today,” it said on Monday (Nov 26).
“Monitoring will be conducted to ensure that the cleanliness levels at Jesselton Point and Anjung Senja Food Court remain under control.
“DBKK is fully aware that the problem of floating waste in the city's waters, including river systems, has reached a critical level,” the department added.
DBKK said that in terms of long-term efforts, it has developed a comprehensive action plan to tackle the problem.
It added this plan includes three key strategies that will be implemented gradually.
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The first strategy, it said, was to strengthen waste management infrastructure, noting it would develop more accessible waste collection centres, especially in riverside villages and island communities.
“This measure aims to make it easier for residents to dispose of waste properly,” it said.
The second strategy was to educate the public by collaborating with various government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), private companies and educational institutions to launch awareness campaigns.
DBKK said this was to teach the importance of environmental cleanliness, proper waste disposal, and reducing single-use plastics.
“Activities such as seminars, workshops, and social media campaigns will be held to educate the public on the harmful impact of waste on marine ecosystems,” it said.
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The final measure was to use technology and innovation, it said, adding it would leverage new technologies from abroad as well as digital innovations to enhance the effectiveness of waste management and monitoring of the waterfront areas.
“By using smartphone applications and digital platforms, DBKK can collect data on the cleanliness levels of the sea and rivers, as well as identify locations requiring urgent action.
“The success of implementing these efforts will require full support from the community and the private sector.
“Therefore, DBKK calls on all residents and visitors of the city to play an active role in maintaining the cleanliness of the environment for the common good,” DBKK said.
The recent video was uploaded by TikTok user MattGoesGlobal, who had previously shared a video highlighting cleanliness issues along the coastline at the Anjung Senja Food Court, also in the state capital.
In the 41-second clip, the travel blogger said the situation was “tragic”, as the camera panned over the floating trash.
“This is not good enough. Something's got to be done about that, man," he said.
He further added that residents in the United Kingdom were required to follow stringent rules to reduce waste but here, "where turtles actually live... it doesn’t matter.”
The issue of floating rubbish at sea has been a long-standing bane for DBKK.
On April 3, it said some 7.5 tonnes of garbage were collected in a series of clean-ups by its personnel in the week prior, particularly at the Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal.
It attributed the trash surge then to the shifting of sea and wind patterns in March.
The bulk of the garbage, according to observations by DBKK, came from water villages or settlements and communities residing near rivers around the state capital.
