Solid waste management act to be enforced from next month

Malaysians will have to start separating their waste when the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act is enforced by next month.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung said, however, a two-year grace period would be given to the public to get used to the practice before fines were imposed on those who failed to do so.

"Within these two years, the three concessionaires in charge of solid waste management in the country will have to raise awareness on separation of waste at source.

"All household owners must know their duty to segregate their own waste before dumping it," he told reporters at a press conference here Tuesday, after officiating at the Green Tour - A Rehda Youth initiative.

On assessment charges, Chor said houseowners would still be charged the same rate when the Act took effect in April.

"The assessment fees will still be collected by the local councils and not the concessionaires," he said.

He added that RM1.4bil needed to be paid each year to the three companies - E-Idaman Sdn Bhd, which is responsible for waste management in the northern region, Alam Flora Sdn Bhd (central region), and Southern Waste Management Sdn Bhd (southern region).

"However, the fees imposed on houseowners are still very low and the maximum amount we are able to collect from them is only about RM900mil.

"The Federal Government still has to fork out another RM500mil to pay these three companies for their services," he said. - Star