Sungai Udang sanitary landfill nearing full capacity

MALACCA: The state's only sanitary landfill at Sungai Udang is nearing full capacity despite being in operation for about two years.
SWM Environment Sdn Bhd regional manager for Malacca and Negri Sembilan Dr Al' Ashari Othman said the situation was caused by bulky waste such as furniture, metal and wood which took up a lot of space.
"We don't deny that the landfill is almost full and there is only limited space now. But we will endeavour to dispose of them soon, so that we can utilise the landfill to the maximum," he told reporters at the breaking of fast and media conference on SWM Environment's operations, last night.
According to him, the 12.1ha site receives between 900 and 1,000 tonnes of garbage daily including bulky waste.
The Sungai Udang landfill began operating after the 25.5ha site at Krubong here was closed at the end of 2014, and is expected to sustain for five years.
Al' Ashari said another contributing factor to the shorter life of the landfill was public apathy and not wholeheartedly practising the 3R concept of Reduce, Recycle and Reuse.
On the landfill, he said the issue had been raised at state level with a number of measures proposed that included building an incinerator at the site.
"We have submitted the proposal to the relevant agency and department and they are studying it. We are expecting a decision soon," he said.
In another development, he said SWM Environment had stepped up its garbage collection and cleaning operations at locations identified to generate more waste during Ramadan and Aidilfitri. — Bernama