Solid Waste Bill

Solid Waste Bill In Final Fine-tuning Stage, Says Ong
PETALING JAYA, Sept 16 (Bernama) -- The National Solid Waste Management Bill, expected to better protect the environment, is in the final fine-tuning stage before it is tabled in the next parliament sitting, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said Saturday.He said the bill, which takes into account landfills and recycling, would be implemented after it was gazetted."There are lots of legal matters that are being sought out as provisions in the Bill involves both federal and state governments," he said at the launch of the Plastics Coding System and the Malaysian Plastic Forum.Ong said this was part of the government's continuous measures to work out appropriate incentives besides instituting new regulations to promote recycling in the country.He said findings of a recent study by the ministry on current recycling practices showed plastics accounted for about 9.7 per cent of household waste.However, the rate of plastic recycling was comparatively low, only about five per cent. Plastics are mostly collected by waste pickers and scavengers.Ong said his ministry was also in the final stages of compiling a directory of recyclers, including those from the plastics industry.He said the directory can lead to the creation of a viable recycling industry through the formation of close networking among the various parties involved in recycling.He also said the National Technical Committee on Management of Solid Waste was still studying various proposals on the use of modern technology for solid waste disposal to replace existing techniques.The proposals include the use of incinerators, a method used in developed countries, he added.Meanwhile, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid said the new legislation would empower the Federal Government to take action against solid waste handlers for flouting the solid waste management law.He said Alam Flora Sdn Bhd, which manages solid waste in several states, would be vested with more powers to collect garbage in a more systematic manner to be recycled."When the law comes into force, Alam Flora will be given responsibilities legally," he told reporters after launching Buharry Green Zone 2006 at Buharry Bistro.Azmi said Alam Flora was currently implementing a pilot project around Petaling Jaya to collect garbage systematically by segregating waste which could be recycled.He urged Alam Flora to provide user-friendly recycling bins to encourage the public, particularly children, to separate the garbage for recycling."Since the bins being used now are high and are unsuitable for children, I'd like to suggest to Alam Flora to come up with more attractive bins with catchy slogans apart from the confusing symbols of glass and newsprint," he said.Azmi said his ministry would discuss with the parties engaged in the recycling industry to find out their problems and the assistance needed."We will ask them the problems they faced, incentives to be given and the form of assistance needed to expand their business and to operate efficiently," he added.-- BERNAMA