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THE Penampang Municipal Council will step up efforts to maintain the cleanliness of the bin centre for some shophouses in the Koidupan area, while the management company (MC) for some Kinarut condominiums has vowed to do likewise when it comes to similar amenities inside the compound of the property.

This action was prompted by separate feedback from a Penampang proprietor and a condominium-owner about the mess at, as well as the stench coming from, the affected bin centres. 

The former said “outsiders” had taken to disposing of their rubbish haphazardly at the bin centre, off Jalan Penampang Baru, even though this amenity was intended for those running businesses or staying at the shophouses.

The condominium-owner, on the other hand, spoke out about the poor condition of the bin centres on the grounds, saying that the doors for some of these amenities could not be closed properly as they were damaged. 

The individuals, who raised these issues, provided Hotline with the pertinent details which were forwarded to the respective parties.

A Council spokesman said its personnel cleaned up the area near the affected bin centre, shortly after learning what had been transpiring in this part of Penampang.

“Three of our garbage collectors emptied the bins that morning,” he said. “Five of our workers later came in to sweep up the remnants around the building.”

He explained that the refuse from the bin centre was cleared on a daily basis.

“A check of our records reveals that there has not been any breakdown in the collection service here.”

He urged eatery-operators at the shophouses to drain the fluids from their kitchen waste prior to bagging this rubbish and disposing of it at the bin centre.

“This will go a long way to minimising the likelihood of leachate pooling near the building.

“We will also look into having the bin centre hosed down regularly to try and further reduce the nuisance created by the unpleasant odour.” 

“Leachate” is the foul smelling liquid which drains from, or ‘leaches’ through, when the piles of bagged waste are compressed.

Where the bin centres for the condominiums, off Jalan SMK Limau-Limauan, are concerned, the MC plans to repair the damaged fixtures for these amenities.

A spokeswoman for the firm said this would be done once it had secured the means to do.

“We have made a request to the developer for funds to carry out the repairs,” she said.

She admitted that the MC faced an uphill task keeping the bin centres in good order.

The spokeswoman said the company had to contend with a lack of civic consciousness among many of those staying in the 1,000 units which made up the property.

“We have repeatedly called on the occupants not to dirty the common area near the bin centres. 

“Our staff have advised them time and time again to bag their rubbish before throwing it into the communal bins.

She said notices to this affect have been given to the occupants. 

The firm had also gone the extra mile to provide each unit with black plastic to use when it came to disposing of household waste, according to her.

“In spite doing all this many still don’t listen, which is why the bin centres look so unsightly and give off a bad smell.”

The spokeswoman said the MC occasionally faced difficulties in dealing with the nuisance posed by the leachate.

“We try to have the road in the vicinity of these buildings washed down regularly but there have been instances where our cleaners have been unable to do this because the water disruptions in this part of Kinarut.”