April date for solid waste deal

Tuesday, 08 February 2011

By Embun Majid embun@thestar.com.my

ALOR SETAR: The privatisation of solid waste management system will take effect this April even though several states have yet to agree to the move, said Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung.

He said the full privatisation would be carried out under the

Solid Waste Management and Public Cleanliness Act 2007 that will come into force in April.

Without naming the states, he said the ministry would continue to discuss the full privatisation plan with the states.

“Since 1996, the states, however, agreed with the interim privatisation plan,” he told newsmen after launching Environment Idaman Sdn Bhd’s new compactor lorries and garbage bins for Kedah here yesterday.

Also present were state Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Phahrolrazi Zawai and Environment Idaman director Datuk Azmil Khalid.He said the three concessionaries – Alam Flora Sdn Bhd (central), Southern Waste Management Sdn Bhd (south) and E-Idaman Sdn Bhd – involved in the interim privatisation were expected to be given the solid waste management contracts under the full privatisation.

“Their contracts will be renewed every five years and they will be evaluated based on their Key Performance Index (KPI),” he said.On another matter, Chor said the ministry hoped all state governments would collect the assessment arrears for solid waste management amounting to RM384mil as the money could be used to improve the garbage collection system in the states.

Chor said that in Kedah, the ministry had agreed to upgrade the facilities at four dumpsites to reduce pollution.He said the dumpsites were in Semeling in Sungai Petani, Padang Cina in Kulim, Belanga Pecah in Langkawi and Jabi, here.

Chor said the ministry has also built an incinerator in Langkawi to treat 100 tonnes of solid waste daily.The incinerator that could provide 1MW of electric power would be in operation by the middle of this year, he added.

Phahrolrazi said the state government accepted the full privatisation of the solid waste management in Kedah.He said that the state saw improvement in the garbage collection since the interim privatisation with Environment Idaman two years ago.

 

 

Share

Subscribe to our Newsletter!

Sign up to receive environmental news and updates!

    dev