FOLLOWING the disruption of rubbish collection in several places on the island recently, the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has now taken over the responsibility of managing the waste after newly-appointed contractors were unable to fulfil their responsibilities.
The areas involved were Seri Delima and Air Itam in the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary constituency, as well as Batu Uban and Pantai Jerejak in the Bayan Baru parliamentary constituency.
MBPP secretary Datuk A. Rajendran told a press conference today that waste collection management on the island is divided into nine zones.
“The two zones (Bayan Baru and Bukit Gelugor parliamentary constituencies) are in addition to the Balik Pulau parliamentary constituency that MBPP is currently managing.
“The new contractors who were appointed to provide service at the Bayan Baru and Bukit Gelugor parliamentary constituencies from Jan 1 were unable to carry out their responsibilities.
“Five other zones are being managed by old contractors that are doing a good job so far, while one new contractor was equally found to be doing a good job too.
“Many complaints were received following the increase of domestic and commercial waste during the holiday season,” Rajendran said.
On average, it is learnt that a total of 700 tonnes of waste are collected daily on the island.
According to Rajendran, from Jan 4 to 9 this year, MBPP has managed to collect 627.63 tonnes of waste in a combined 207 trips using trash compactor trucks in all the affected areas.
Meanwhile, he also added that MBPP is planning to purchase three additional units of trash compactor trucks on top of the 10 existing ones that were bought at the start of this year.
“This effort is to ensure that waste collection is done efficiently throughout the island to maintain cleanliness, especially in areas that were affected due to the disruption of waste pile-up,” Rajendran added.
Also present was state Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud