I READ with concern about the recent fire at the Kualiti Alam Waste Management Centre in Bukit Pelanduk, Port Dickson, as reported in theSun. It is troubling that this is the third fire to occur at the centre.
It begs the question: why has Kualiti Alam Waste Management Centre not taken significant measures to prevent such incidents after experiencing fires in 2015 and 2019?
Kualiti Alam was set up in the late 1980s. This led to the enactment of the Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 1989 by the Environment Department, aimed at effectively managing scheduled wastes generated in Malaysia.
As a premise licensed to handle scheduled wastes, Kualiti Alam Waste Management Centre bears significant responsibilities when accepting waste from industries for treatment.
The centre is tasked with rendering all collected waste innocuous before its final disposal or burial.
I expect the centre to conduct a comprehensive analysis to determine the content of the wastes and to implement measures to segregate and foresee any side reactions within the stored wastes.
Assuring the public of air quality monitoring after the fire is insufficient. The company’s failure to disclose the specific waste responsible for igniting the fire raises concerns.
The Environment Department should conduct a comprehensive investigation of the fire to prevent future occurrences.
