ISKANDAR PUTERI: Some 40% of waste sent to landfills statewide comprised food waste, says Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor.
The Johor housing and local government committee chairman said that the finding, based on a study by Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp), is concerning as the decomposition of food waste produces methane gas, a type of greenhouse gas that is harmful to the environment.
“The state government, with the relevant agencies, has implemented measures to reduce methane production.
“SWCorp has introduced control measures, including using soil to cover unused landfill cells (intermediate cover).
“For active cells, landfill operators are also required to cover the waste using soil or canvas on a daily basis (daily cover),” he said during the state assembly sitting here Wednesday (Nov 27).
Mohd Jafni said this in response to questions about waste disposal and food waste from Muszaide Makmor (BN-Sedili) and Nor Rasidah Ramli (BN-Parit Raja).
He added that a total of 323 public awareness campaigns have been conducted this year, including 69 that focus on appreciating food and avoiding waste.
“Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has also announced an allocation of RM700,000 for the Low Carbon Iskandar Puteri community grant to encourage the community to conduct programs that align with low carbon initiatives,” he said.
He added that local councils are also conducting recycling awareness campaigns, including a monthly drive-thru recycling centre programmes.
Mohd Jafni also noted that there are five landfills under the National Solid Waste Management Department or SWCorp in Johor.
“The five landfills are at Seelong (Kulai), Batu Empat (Kota Tinggi), Jemaluang (Mersing), Maokil (Labis) and Buloh Kasap (Segamat).
“On top of that, we have two other landfills under local governments. They are the Tanjung Langsat landfill under the Pasir Gudang City Council and the Bukit Tuatau landfills under the Pengerang Municipal Council,” he said.
