KUCHING: Natural Resources Ministry and Local Government Ministry will be carrying out a combined study on the Solid Waste Disposal Master Plan for the whole of Sarawak by the end of December.
Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said the study was necessary to deal with the waste issues for the whole of the state.
“”It is so hard to look for an area to dispose waste,” he said, adding that trucks sometimes had to travel hundreds of kilometres to carry the waste to the dumping areas.
“Of course, in the process, they cause traffic jams, the leachette or water drips and everybody complains,” added Sim.
On the combined study, he added: “We are looking forward to it.”
In his speech while officiating the “MBKS Environmental Awareness Week” at MBKS Auditorium here yesterday, the minister said Sarawak already had one incinerator.
“But Sarawak is so big. Can you imagine just one incinerator for the whole of Sarawak? So that is why we need the master plan on waste.”
Sim added that many people were unaware that landfills were expensive to build.
“And when they are full, they need to be closed. To rehabilitate one dumping area in Mambong recently cost RM10mil,”he said.
Sim added: “We want Kuching to be known not only as a city of unity but also as a place of blue sky and fresh air.”
Besides making the city more green, it was also important to reduce the use of plastics, he pointed out.
