Council tackles persistent waste issues

KUCHING: The Padawan Municipal Council (PMC) has stepped in to address the growing waste management crisis at MJC Batu Kawah Commercial Centre’s bin centres.

PMC chairman Tan Kai said he was concerned about the failure of Management Committee (MC) and Joint Management Body (JMB) to effectively tackle the issue of rampant waste dumping, particularly in certain blocks.

“We have observed a concerning trend of indiscriminate waste disposal, and our response includes the removal of problematic bin centres and the provision of individual bins for each parcel,” said Tan Kai in a statement.

He further noted that once these bins are in place, it is the responsibility of MCs and JMBs to ensure their proper management and maintenance to avoid similar problems in the future.

The council’s intervention comes amid a flurry of complaints from business owners and residents about the accumulation of waste.

“There have been persistent issues despite our appeals for responsible disposal. As a result, we have imposed fines of RM500 on five individuals for violating waste disposal norms,” he added, expressing appreciation for residents’ assistance in providing evidence for these enforcement actions.

All 50 blocks of the MJC Batu Kawah Commercial Centre have formed their respective MC and JMB in compliance with the Strata Management Ordinance 2019.

“Under this ordinance, the MC and JMB bear the responsibility of managing and maintaining all communal areas, including bin centres, to ensure the overall upkeep of the property,” he said.