Kota Kinabalu: Growing pressure on the Kayu Madang landfill and worsening rubbish pollution along Tuaran’s coastline require urgent State intervention, said the Pantai Dalit Assemblyman Datuk Jasnih Daya.
Speaking during the State Legislative Assembly sitting here on Tuesday, he said the issues at the Kayu Madang landfill and the Mengkabong–Gayang coastal area are closely linked and directly affect public health, environmental sustainability and local livelihoods.
He said the Kayu Madang landfill is the main solid waste disposal site for the West Coast, serving Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran, Penampang, Putatan and Kota Belud.
The site currently receives around 800 tonnes of solid waste daily and covers an area of about 115 acres.
Jasnih said the landfill replaced the old Lok Kawi disposal site after it reached the end of its operational life in 1996.
However, he said the site is now nearing its maximum capacity and has entered the final phase of operations.
He said this was confirmed by the Solid Waste Management Department of Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) in April this year.
He also highlighted the long-standing issue of foul odour pollution affecting nearby residents.
He said the smell is caused by methane and hydrogen sulfide released from decomposing organic waste, combined with open or semi-sanitary disposal methods and inconsistent daily soil covering.
According to him, hot weather and wind direction cause the odour to spread into nearby housing areas and affect the quality of life of local communities.
Jasnih also raised concern over repeated fire incidents at the landfill, including a major fire in 2024 involving 4.57 hectares of the site.
Another incident happened in March this year involving a tyre pile covering about three acres.
He said these fires released thick smoke and harmful pollutants, creating respiratory risks and long-term exposure to toxic substances for nearby residents.
From a planning perspective, he said the presence of a large landfill near housing areas and development zones creates serious land-use conflict.
He said this affects property values, discourages investment and reduces the attractiveness of surrounding development areas.
He added that depending on one landfill for several districts without an alternative plan reflects weaknesses in Sabah’s long-term waste management strategy.
He proposed transparent Environmental Impact, Social Impact and Health Impact assessments, while also calling for the site to be upgraded into a fully sanitary landfill system with proper gas control, leachate treatment and more systematic daily waste covering.
He also urged faster implementation of mandatory waste separation at source, the planning of a new landfill site and exploration of waste-to-energy technology as part of a long-term solution.
Jasnih said the problem continues downstream to the Mengkabong–Gayang coastal area, where plastic and marine waste pollution is becoming increasingly serious despite the area being an important mangrove ecosystem that supports marine life and fishing communities.
Citing United Nations findings, he said between 60 and 80 per cent of marine waste worldwide consists of plastic, while around 80 per cent of ocean pollution comes from land-based activities carried into the sea through rivers, with Sungai Tuaran serving as one of the main channels.
He said inconsistent rubbish collection services in some coastal villages have forced some residents to rely on informal disposal methods, while fishermen continue to suffer damaged nets, higher operating costs and reduced eco-tourism potential.
“This is no longer an isolated issue, but one involving public health, public safety, environmental sustainability and the future development of the State,” he said.
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