Ting (front table, centre) seen here chairing the meeting, says domestic waste arriving in plastic bags make proper compaction difficult.
Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) is grappling with the challenge of plastic waste overwhelming the Kemuyang sanitary landfill with its second cell nearing capacity.
SMC chairman Clarence Ting said excessive plastic content in domestic waste was hindering effective compaction at the landfill, leading to faster-than-expected cell saturation.
“Most of the domestic waste arrive in plastic bags, making proper compaction difficult.
“This is why the second cell is overflowing,” Ting said at a full board meeting.
With the upcoming third cell still under preparation, concerns are mounting about the lack of suitable equipment to manage waste volume.
Ting said SMC was considering investing in a shredder to allow for better compaction as well as extending the lifespan of landfill cells.
“Unless we have a shredder, the situation remains challenging.
“Shredding the plastic waste will make compaction more feasible.
“SMC should seriously consider acquiring this equipment because building a new landfill cell is far more costly,” he added.
