Ministry embarking on pilot project for solid waste management in rural areas

KOTA SAMARAHAN: The Ministry of Rural Development is currently planning a pilot project for solid waste management in some rural areas.

According to minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun, the programme aims to encourage the rural or village communities to practise proper garbage isolation system from home, as well as to create waste collection sites, sewerage and irrigation projects more efficiently.

This pilot project, she added, would be implemented under her ministry’s ‘Harapan Plan’.

“Under this plan, we will focus on the environmental improvement management as we are very concerned about managing solid waste in the rural areas as well.

“This is one of our initiatives to encourage the people to be more concerned about the environment, including their rivers,” she said during a press conference held after the launch of the Institute for Rural Advancement ( Infra) Sarawak Campus here yesterday.

Rina said the pilot project would be implemented this year, but the exact location would be announced later once the site had been identified and the details of the programme had been finalised.

The minister said the training for the community leaders, to be conducted by Infra, would also include a special module – one that would deal with waste management.

She expressed her hope that having undergone the training at Infra and gaining the relevant knowledge and experience there, these community leaders could come up with activities for their respective communities slated for improving their existing solid waste management.

“At the same time, I will direct the officers from my ministry and relevant agencies to look into the relevant programmes that are required in the villages because this area is not covered by the local authorities.

“I have also asked my officers to find the best way to encourage villagers to express their creativity when it comes to improving solid waste management in villages,” she said.