Negeri Sembilan braces for 3-fold increase in waste for Chinese New Year

SEREMBAN (Jan 29): SWM Sdn Bhd will be collecting rubbish in three phases during the Chinese New Year and school holiday week to accommodate an expected three-fold increase during the period Feb 6 to 11, Negeri Sembilan Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Jalaluddin Alias (pictured) has said.

“The increase is predicted in areas with a high number of Chinese residents and tourist areas,” he told reporters yesterday, adding that 67 residential areas had a high number of Chinese residents.

“These include 15 areas in Nilai, Seremban (10), Tampin (7), Rembau (6), Jempol (5) and eight residential areas respectively in Port Dickson, Kuala Pilah and Jelebu,” he said.

It is understood that on the first day of Chinese New Year, 1,166 SWM workers and contractors will be on duty, operating 228 waste collection vehicles.

On the second day, 1,461 workers will be operating 234 vehicles. Jalaluddin said that normally about 1,000 tonnes of solid waste would be collected, but during this festive season that number was expected to triple.

“The concessionaire (SWM) will carry out waste collection before, during and after the festive season,” he added.

He said this was to avoid uncollected waste becoming an eyesore, causing a smell or attracting animals and insects carrying diseases.

Jalaludidn added that lorries would also be used to collect large waste items in predominantly Chinese neighbourhoods until Feb 7.

“This is to collect items such as damaged cupboards, sofa, mattress disposed by those celebrating Chinese New Year,” he said, adding that it was to help encourage the public not to dump waste illegally.

Meanwhile, Jalaluddin added that 47 illegal dumping areas had been earmarked for council monitoring.

“Warning signs have been put up and SWM will constantly monitor the areas to ensure they are not used,” he added.

The public can contact the hotline 1-800-88-7422, should there be any complains on waste collection during the Chinese New Year period. -- The Malaysian Insider

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