Tan (centre) and others pose with the waste bins during the handover ceremony. – Ukas photo

KUCHING (Aug 9): The Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) has handed over 16 bins to residents of Lo Ti Kong, Batu Kawa, as part of efforts to curb illegal dumping in the area.

During a handover ceremony yesterday, MPP chairman Tan Kai said the initiative was aimed at encouraging proper waste management and reducing the risk of illegal dumping at unauthorised sites.

He said the bins were also intended for residents with restricted access to waste collection services.

Tan said MPP would continue to prioritise efforts to address illegal dumping, which affects hygiene and the area’s image while potentially posing risks to public health, the environment and community well-being.

He said the council had been carrying out monitoring and enforcement activities, public awareness programmes and scheduled waste collection services.

“Despite these efforts, irresponsible waste disposal activities continued to be detected at several locations,” he said in a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) report.

“The council takes municipal service delivery seriously as it has a direct impact on the environment and the well-being of residents.

“Illegal dumping is unacceptable and MPP will continue to monitor identified hotspots and implement initiatives to curb it.”

Meanwhile, Tan acknowledged the challenges faced by waste collection services, especially in older housing areas and villages where narrow roads restrict access for collection vehicles.

He said existing utilities, such as telephone lines and electrical cables, posed further challenges to expanding access routes.

He said providing bins was a practical step to help residents manage domestic waste more systematically, especially in areas with access constraints.

He also urged residents to cooperate with MPP by providing feedback and reporting illegal dumping in their neighbourhoods.

“Efforts to address illegal dumping cannot rely solely on enforcement actions; instead, they require awareness, discipline and continuous cooperation from all parties,” he said.

Tan added that MPP would continue monitoring the situation and working closely with relevant parties to ensure areas under its jurisdictions remained clean, safe and comfortable.