Public enlisted to help nab culprits of illegal dumping

Federal Territories Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) is calling on residents to help combat illegal dumping.

SWCorp said despite clear warnings, some continue to disregard regulations; as such, the authority is urging residents who witness such activity to photograph or record the offenders and submit the evidence.

This initiative is to enable the community to assist in holding perpetrators accountable.Ummi Kalthum said SWCorp is collaborating with DBKL and JPJ to identify people dumping rubbish in the city centre.

SWCorp Federal Territories director Ummi Kalthum Shuib said there was an increase in illegal dumping cases in Kuala Lumpur, especially in housing areas.

She said her enforcement team could not track all perpetrators due to the vast number of affected areas, adding that their priority was to identify and prosecute the offenders.

“Once we have identified a hotspot where illegal dumping has occurred, we will clean and cordon off the area with yellow tape.

“A banner with warning signs and the penalties imposed will be put up to deter anyone from dumping their rubbish there, she said, adding that they have identified 38 active hotspots this year.”From 2020 to March 2024, about 175 hotspots were discovered in the city.

Ummi Kalthum said the department managed to close 134 of these hotspots, while the remaining were pending clean-up.

“We have a dedicated team of 18 enforcement officers in Kuala Lumpur who are in charge to specifically identify illegal dumping areas, and trained to catch people committing the offence.

“We need to catch them in the act; it’s the only way to prosecute,” she said.

Ummi Kalthum said SWCorp staff would approach people living nearby or closest to the dumping ground to get feedback, eyewitness accounts, and vehicle numbers.

“People living near the hotspots are usually the innocent victims, as no one wants to live next to a rubbish dump,” she said, adding that the perpetrators tend to dump rubbish in the early hours of the morning when no one is around.

Ummi Kalthum said downtown Kuala Lumpur had many closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, and SWCorp had been working with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to identify people dumping rubbish in the city centre via vehicle number plate identification.

An illegal rubbish dumping hotspot in Brickfields.

“There are not many CCTV cameras in neighbourhoods, so we hope the public can help us with doing the monitoring.

“In some areas where private land has become dumping grounds, we have asked the landowners to instal CCTV cameras, and they are willing to do so,” she added.

Ummi urged the public not to dispose of their bulk rubbish at random sites, as the waste contractor Alam Flora would pick up bulk waste door to door.

“For garden waste, tie it up in a bag properly and place it next to your green bin. The same goes for bulk and recyclable wastes.

“The schedule for bulk, garden, and recyclable waste collection is on the same day,” she said.

Despite the banners put up early this year warning people about illegal rubbish dumping, some residents said the culprits chose to ignore it.

“The rubbish consists of garden waste and recyclable items such as boxes, plastic and paper; we will also see sofa chair, an old cupboard and even a toilet bowl,” said Happy Garden resident KC Cheah.

Taman Bukit Indah resident Gowri Raja said she often spotted one car dropping off rubbish in the neighbourhood.

“Next time, I will take a photo and send it to the authorities,” she added.

Those with information on illegal dumping can lodge a complaint by calling the 1800-88-7472 hotline, SWCorp office 03-2245 9292, email callcentre@swcorp.my or visit swcorp.spab.gov.my