JB council seeks federal aid to shut down dumpsite

THE Johor Baru City Council has requested an allocation from the National Solid Waste Management Department (JPSPN) to shut down an illegal dumpsite in Taman Bukit Kempas.

“Previously, we spent RM200,000 to close down the area,” Johor Baru mayor Datuk Noorazam Osman said.

“However, we estimate that it would take millions of ringgit to conduct a total cleanup and closure of the site.

“That is why we are requesting help from JPSPN.

“I have been informed that the matter is pending at the Finance Ministry.”

He said the request was made in 2019 but had yet to be approved by the ministry.

The site pictured in 2021. — Filepic

About 5,000 residents of Taman Bukit Kempas have been affected by the illegal dumpsite since 2015 and for years, they suffered noxious fumes emitted from the site, especially at night.

“We do not want to relive those moments of gasping for air and inhaling smoke coming from the burning dumpsite,” said resident Yusmahanim Yusof.

Taman Bukit Kempas Residents Association member Darren Thong said the latest dumping incident occurred on July 22 at Jalan Banjaran 11.

“Unscrupulous parties used to dump their waste at Jalan Banjaran 10 but now they have started to dump at a new location at night.”

Noorazam said the city council had no jurisdiction as the case fell under the authority of the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) and JPSPN.

“We really hope that the Federal Government can prioritise this issue so we can put an end to this problem,” he said after conducting a joint meeting with related government agencies and residents association in Taman Bukit Kempas.

Noorazam said the city council would also form a joint task force with other government agencies to close down all small-scale recycling centres in the area.

He said it was high time that the state government introduced a special zone for recycling activities for better management.

Noorazam, who was previously Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor (KPRJ) chief executive officer, said KPRJ bought a 32ha land located next to the Seelong Sanitary Landfill in Kulai.

“If we can gather all of these recycling companies in one area, once they have isolated what can be recycled, the waste can be directly disposed of at the landfill,” he said.

“The place is perfect as it has leachate and gas treatment facilities for disposal in an environment-friendly way.”

He added that the Environment Impact Assessment report for the project had been submitted for approval.

On the joint taskforce, Noorazam said the city council needed to conduct a joint meeting between the police, Environment Department, Johor Land and Mines Office and SWCorp to find the best way to shut down all illegal recycling centres.

“The strongest law that we can use is the National Land Code.

“It seems that issuing compounds is no longer viable as they have continued operating.

“The city council has not issued any temporary licences for recycling operations as there is a need to streamline and centralise first.”