Mayor: Don’t simply dump construction waste

KUCHING: Members of the public are urged to dispose their waste responsibly, particularly those who are carrying out renovation works at their houses or commercial units.

Mayor of Kuching South City Council ( MBKS) Datuk James Chan said the council has of late discovered many construction waste illegally dumped on empty land under their jurisdiction.

“What has happened is that after completing the renovations to the house, the contractor probably found an empty land and instructed their workers to dump the waste there.

“We have also discovered that excess materials or construction waste were never discarded and were ‘conveniently’ left in the vicinity of new commercial centres.”

Chan said this illegal dumping of construction waste has no doubt been carried out by unscrupulous and irresponsible people.

“In fact, many a time, it’s the contractors who are the culprits. The house or shop owners are not aware of it (illegal dumping).

“The only problem for the council is that most of the time, we cannot find the culprits. Removing the wastes means incurring extra cost. It will be the ratepayers who are paying for this extra

What has happened is that after completing the renovations to the house, the contractor probably found an empty land and instructed their workers to dump the waste there. Datuk James Chan, Mayor of Kuching South City Council (MBKS)

cost.”

He added that if the construction waste was dumped on an empty land, the council would have to look for the landowner.

“We have to contact the landowner and tell him or her about the waste. If he or she cannot remove it, the council will have no choice but to charge the owner for the removal of the waste,” he said.

As such, he called on the public to be their eyes and ears and help the council to identify those responsible for the illegal dumping.

“Please take a photo or take note of the vehicle registration number to enable our enforcement team to track down these unscrupulous people.”

On their part, MBKS officers would also carry out their own investigation if they come across waste dumped illegally on empty land.

Chan said their officers were now more pro- active when they come across any renovation or construction site.

They would approach the relevant parties and inform them not to simply discard their waste.

Empty plots of land are often the target to illegally dump construction waste.

Construction material such as plasterboards are seen ‘conveniently’ discarded next to a car park.

An example of construction waste left at parking spaces.

Datuk James Chan