TUARAN: Residents in Telipok, Gayang and Lapasan are urging authorities to step up enforcement and carry out regular monitoring to tackle illegal waste dumping along the roads.
A Bernama check found piles of rubbish in the area near the Kayu Madang landfill here, dumped by irresponsible parties, leaving the roads dirty and emitting a foul smell.
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Lapasan resident Rayner Lo, 48, has urged authorities, particularly the Department of Environment (DOE) and Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK), to take immediate action against roadside waste dumping in the area.
“I hope the authorities can step up patrols in the areas where people keep dumping rubbish. They need to act quickly before the situation gets worse.
“For the past few years, the open area by the road has been used as a dumping spot. The waste should have been disposed of properly at Kayu Madang landfill,” he told Bernama.
Rayner said that the act of dumping rubbish by irresponsible individuals along the roadside had turned into a growing trend, making strict measures essential.
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He added that the problem had recently become more serious, as not only domestic waste but also old furniture was being dumped there, turning the area into an eyesore.
“Some people from outside keep dumping garbage here because they don’t want to go all the way to the landfill, often giving excuses about the poor road conditions,” he said.
Another Lapasan resident, Herry Pormin, 32, said that, in addition to regular monitoring, authorities should install CCTV cameras to identify those responsible for illegal dumping.
“Strict action must be taken against anyone caught dumping rubbish illegally so it won’t happen again and high fines should be imposed to teach others a lesson,” he said.
Also voicing her concern, a housewife from Telipok, Aminah Md Asan, 45, said the stench and unhygienic conditions could pose a health risk to residents.
“During hot and windy days, the stench from this pile of garbage spreads all the way to our homes. It’s very unpleasant and we fear it could become a breeding ground for Aedes mosquitoes,” she said.
Gayang resident Mohd Faizul Salleh, 50, said said that the piles of rubbish along the roadside had also drawn wild animals, such as stray dogs and monkeys, into the area.
“These animals rummage through the food waste and scatter rubbish onto the road, making it unsafe for motorists, especially motorcyclists,” said the soldier.
