Reveal details of legal recycle operators in the state, Penang told
Civil society groups have called on the Penang government to publicly reveal the list of legal operators of recycling products in the state to address the issue of illegal plastic wastes.
Penang Forum, a coalition of several NGOs, urged the state to put up a smart website to show members of the public the list of legal recycle operators, including their details, such as their locations and permit data...
Civil society groups have called on the Penang government to publicly reveal the list of legal operators of recycling products in the state to address the issue of illegal plastic wastes.
Penang Forum, a coalition of several NGOs, urged the state to put up a smart website to show members of the public the list of legal recycle operators, including their details, such as their locations and permit data.
The coalition's spokesperson Khoo Salma Nasution said: "That way, the people can immediately check if the recycle operator in their neighbourhood is a legal one or not."
Salma also asked the state to be transparent about the amounts of fines or punishments on the open burning of plastic wastes, eWastes and toxic materials.
"If an illegal recycle operator is renting the premises, then does the landowner and tenant, either or both, get fined?" asked Salma, who is the coalition's steering committee member.
She was referring to an open burning incident on the hills of Relau on Feb 11, which turned out to be carried out by an illegal plastic recycling factory.
The Department of Environment (DoE) visited the six-acre site of the open burning of waste materials after residents and the Penang state executive councillor for environment, Phee Boon Poh, lodged complaints.
Salma asked how the illegal operator was able to expand its operation to six acres of land without being discovered by the authorities.
As for the drones the city council purchased...
"The Penang Island City Council bought a few drones. Does it use these drones to discover illegal operations?" Salma asked.
Yesterday, Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) vice-president Fathima Mohd Idris urged the state to "stop the pussyfooting around the plastic recycling pollution issue".
Fatimah expressed "aghast" over the open burning of plastics in Relau.
She urged the government to "completely weed out" plastic recycling facilities that do not comply with the stringent guidelines in force.
Meanwhile, at a press conference yesterday, Salma invited the people to attend "Forum Peduli Rakyat" (Forum on People's Concerns) at Dewan Sri Pinang on Saturday.
Presenting 21 speakers from various platforms, the forum will highlight issues involving the Penang Transport Master Plan, Penang South Reclamation and the creation of three artificial islands, hike in assessment rates and land tax, affordable housing, plastic wastes and pollution.
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