THE Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has given a final reminder to residents of Lebuh Klang, Love Lane and Stewart Lane in George Town today to throw household rubbish into proper garbage bins.
MBPP public health and licensing committee alternate chairman Wong Yuee Harng said offenders caught with throwing rubbish indiscriminately would be given a compound of RM250 for each offence.
Out of 122 premises in the vicinity, Wong said only 22 have rubbish bins.
“I hope the others will buy their own rubbish bins from Lebuh Carnavon or any supplier. This is a core heritage zone and we don’t want tourists to have a bad impression of George Town,” Wong told reporters while showing them a spot at Lebuh Klang where bags of rubbish were usually thrown near a TNB sub-station.
MBPP has put up a signage there warning culprits of a RM500 penalty by the court.
“For the past 10 years, we’ve given enough tolerance to the residents and also raised public awareness. Now it’s time to enforce the rules,” Wong added.
Wong said the size and dimension of the rubbish bin for domestic landed property should be 120 litres (950mm x 480mm), commercial landed property (240 litres, 1070mm x 580mm) and residential apartments (660 litres – 1280mm x 1255mm & 1,100 litres – 1370mm x 1250mm).
He also said it was compulsory for residents to segregate the rubbish, putting the plastic bags containing food wastes in the bin and the plastic bags containing recyclable items outside the bin.
Also present were MBPP Urban Services director Mubarak Junos, MBPP councillor Gerald Mak Mun Keong, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow’s service centre officer Johnny Chee, MBPP Urban Services health assistant officer Mohamed Khairul Hailmie and JKKK Lebuh Chulia members.
Mubarak said residents should not throw rubbish anywhere as they like, as long as they are not thrown in “my own backyard.”
“It’s also more hygienic to throw rubbish properly into the bin and also to care for the environment,” said Mubarak.
Mak called on owners of some unoccupied houses to also clean up their premises because of bird droppings that could be hazardous to health.
Story by K.H. Ong
Photos by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi