MCC aims to reduce RM16 mln rubbish collection bill through education
MIRI: The Miri City Council ( MCC) has spent some RM16 million this year on rubbish management throughout the city.
Mayor Adam Yii said the cost included efforts to clear illegal dumping sites throughout the city which were created by irresponsible members of the public.
“The management of rubbish collection has indeed cost the council a huge amount. Apart from managing commercial and household waste, the council has to fork up more funds to clean and clear illegal dumping sites which seem to be rampantly appearing despite various warning notices placed at the said locations,” he told reporters after chairing a full council meeting recently.
In view of this, Yii said the council has to further enhance its existing community environment education programme to create better public awareness, particularly of household waste management.
He pointed out that members of public needed to be taught how to manage their household waste properly and not to simply dump their rubbish at non- designated dumping areas.
This commitment would be vital in helping the council reduce rubbish management costs, he said.
Additionally, he said the highest number of public complaints on rubbish collection received by the council throughout this year involved contractors providing poor service and performing badly.
“There are nine contractors which have been given the task of providing rubbish collection services at 15 residential zones.
“Members of the public complained to us that the contractors failed to put back the rubbish bins properly while conducting rubbish collection works at residential areas and also caused access roads to be dirtied in the process of transferring the rubbish to the designated collection site.
“There were also complaints that the contractor failed to collect rubbish from some areas according to the given schedule due to lack of manpower.”
Yii said the council was trying their best to solve these rubbish collection issues as well as poor drain maintenance works at certain residential areas.
“We will look at all means to improve our services to the people. Thus, we welcome members of public to give us any feedback or complaints regarding our services.
“Feedback from the public is needed as there are still much room for the council to improve its services to the people.”