Selangor’s allure of abundant job prospects has attracted a significant influx of migration to the State, making it a bustling hub of growth and progress. However, with great prosperity comes great responsibility, and Selangor faces a pressing issue – illegally disposed waste. As the most populous State, it is no surprise that Selangor also generates the highest volume of waste in the entire country at approximately 7,000 tons on a daily basis. This is exacerbated by the blight that is illegal dumping which poses significant challenges to Selangor’s infrastructure, resources and most crucially, the health of its citizens.
Thankfully, the State has implemented its First Selangor Plan (RS-1), a comprehensive strategy, centred around four core themes: Economy, Social, Sustainability, and Governance.
As waste management lies within the sustainability theme, Selangor is committed to implementing proper, effective, and innovative waste management solutions.
International Business Review spoke with YB Tuan Ng Sze Han, the Chairman of KDEB Waste Management (KDEBWM) – Selangor’s premier waste management company and Selangor State Executive Councillor for Local Government, Public Transport and New Village Development on how Selangor is combatting this issue.
According to investigations done by KDEBWM and Selangor’s local councils, this problem does not stem from domestic waste. Instead, the primary contributors to this issue are actually private waste collectors – appointed by Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (ICI) entities.
Centralised Gameplan
The Selangor State Government has developed a plan to centralise ICI waste collection under KDEBWM, because of its wealth of experience and wide adoption of technology. With KDEBWM operating as a Project Management Company (PMC), private waste collectors will now work together with the company to responsibly dispose of ICI waste. This is ensured by applying KDEBWM’s Vechicle Management Systems (VMS) and CCTV monitoring to the lorries owned by private waste collectors working under it.
YB Tuan Ng stated that by doing so, “KDEBWM can monitor the movement of third-party lorries and ensure that none would stray off and dispose its waste at non-gazetted sanitary landfills and adhere to the procedures that are set by the state government.” By centralising waste collection and public cleansing under KDEBWM, monitoring is streamlined, allowing the State Government and respective local councils to deal with only a single entity.
Currently, two local councils, namely Kuala Langat Municipal Council (MPKL) and Kuala Selangor Municipal Council (MPKS), have appointed KDEBWM as the sole ICI Waste collector, and the results have been promising. The plan is to expand this centralised ICI waste collection to other local councils in the near future.
A Bird’s Eye View
Drone technology has also emerged as a powerful tool to combat illegal dumping, addressing the challenges of limited manpower and the need for discreet surveillance. “Drones play a crucial role in identifying hotspots of illegal dumping, deterring such activities, and ensuring enforcement of regulations through the gathering of substantial evidence. This especially the case with sites that are difficult to access,” YB Tuan Ng said.
Since the past few years, Selangor’s local councils have been utilising drones effectively to closely monitor illegal dumping sites, conducting regular flights over notorious hotspots as well as high-risk sites to capture evidence for enforcement purposes. With their wide-angle perspectives, drones enable comprehensive monitoring, even in hidden or obstructed areas.
Public Engagement
While State agencies and local municipalities in Selangor are actively engaged in monitoring and tracking illegal dumping activities, the public must also be involved for this to really work. KDEBWM’s iClean Selangor mobile application serves as a medium for the public to engage and report on suspicious activities and potential dumping grounds.
This is then coupled with the use of the aforementioned drone technology. The integration of these technologies offers a comprehensive approach to tackle illegal waste disposals. When reports are made through the iClean application, drones can be deployed by the local councils to verify and gather evidence, including real-time monitoring of known dumping sites. This data can be used within iClean application, facilitating a more efficient and effective response to illegal dumping. The combined use of the iClean application and anti-illegal dumping drones enables enhanced waste disposal monitoring and management, ensuring proper waste disposal practices.
– YB Tuan Ng Sze Han
Chairman of KDEB Waste Management (KDEBWM) and Selangor State Executive Councillor for Local Government, Public Transport and New Village Development
To summarise, KDEBWM’s commitment to effective approaches, alongside the collective effort of all stakeholders, is crucial in combating illegal waste disposal in Selangor. It is essential for industry players, residents of Selangor, and the government to work together and embrace technological advancements to ensure proper waste management. By doing so, as KDEBWM’s motto says, “Together, We Keep Selangor Clean” and head towards a more sustainable future for Selangor.
