Fence installed to deter dumping

Transformation of refuse room sees mindset change among Taman OUG folk

A REFUSE room next to the Jalan Medan Hujan Rahmat multi-storey carpark in Taman Overseas Union Garden (OUG) commercial centre, Kuala Lumpur, has seen a transformation after it was fixed and mounds of rubbish removed.

Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) stepped in to repair and upgrade the refuse room (rumah sampah) at a cost of RM15,000.

Previously, the area was filled with plastic waste, polystyrene boxes, broken furniture, durian shells and other rotting food.

ALSO READ: Taman OUG swamped with rubbish

With its doors missing, the refuse room was the place for morning market traders, hawkers, residents and shopowners to dump rubbish.

SWCorp enforcement officer Sinniah Visvirnathan said closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras were not installed as initially planned.

Instead, gates and fences were fixed to restrict access and prevent outsiders from dumping waste there, he said.

Sinniah: CCTV cameras were not installed as initially planned. Instead, gates and fences were erected to restrict access.

“Once the refuse room was upgraded, we noticed that residents were more responsible and were no longer throwing rubbish there,” he said, adding that the transformation had put a smile on the faces of the cleaning crew.

“Alam Flora’s cleaners used to spend three to four hours a day just to sort out the waste,” he said.

He noted that they would collect almost three tonnes of waste each day.

Sinniah said business owners, including restaurants, had been advised to place rubbish bins in front of their shops.

“All they have to do is put the waste in a bag and place it in the bin for Alam Flora workers to collect,” he added.

Morning market traders are also required to do the same by leaving their waste at designated areas.

Sinniah said things seemed to have improved with a system in place for residents to segregate their rubbish into recycling bins.

Flashback of StarMetro’s story on July 31.

SWCorp Federal Territories director Ummi Kalthum Shuib said the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 made it mandatory for waste segregation at source, and the public was required to observe this.

She also said the amount of waste had spiked this year compared to last year, increasing from 2,200tonnes to 2,400tonnes per day.

“The increase in waste production is attributed to both Kuala Lumpur’s growing population and the fact that people are not actively recycling,” she said.

Ummi Kalthum said Taman OUG was initially marked as a red zone due to poor cleanliness, but it had now been successfully transformed.

“If you are unsure about how to recycle, contact us on our hotline.

“We are ready to educate the public,” she said, adding that there was a need to recycle and reduce waste heading to landfills.

Ummi Kalthum showing other projects to upgrade refuse rooms carried out by SWCorp and Alam Flora.

Residents with bulk waste such as furniture can refer to the schedule on SWCorp’s website to find out the collection schedule.

“Type in the area’s name and the schedule will pop up on the website,” said Ummi Kalthum.

“Alternatively, residents can contact us directly and we will arrange a pick-up for your bulk waste disposal,” she added.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, who launched the newly revamped refuse room, praised SWCorp and Alam Flora for their efforts in managing the rubbish problem.

“In addition to these efforts, it is crucial to mitigate the rubbish dumping issue by educating the public.

“Whether it is through creating posters or establishing WhatsApp groups with the authorities and residents, public education on proper waste disposal is essential,” said Kok.

Rudy Loo, manager of Overseas Union Garden Sdn Bhd which owns the commercial building, said he was happy with the refuse room’s transformation as it had been filthy for years.

He had worked with Alam Flora and SWCorp to solve the rubbish problem.

Kok presented certificates as a token of appreciation to Loo and Alam Flora workers.