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THE growing rubbish problem in Kinarut and other parts of Sabah did not happen overnight. It reflects a waste management system that has gradually become disconnected from the daily realities faced by residents.

One of the biggest concerns repeatedly raised by the public is the closure of many communal bin centres that once served communities throughout the Papar district, particularly in Kinarut.

In the past, residents could easily find designated places to dispose of household rubbish. Bin centres were commonly located near villages, housing areas, roadside settlements and public spaces. 

Whether one lived in a kampung, rented accommodation or a modest residential area, there was usually a nearby disposal point.

Today, many of those facilities are gone.

The shortage of accessible rubbish disposal points is obvious to anyone who travels regularly through Kinarut and its surrounding areas. 

As a result, many residents are asking a simple but important question: where are people supposed to throw their rubbish?

The decision by the Papar District Council to close many communal bin centres may have been made for administrative, operational or financial reasons. 

However, the impact on the ground is becoming increasingly visible.

In many areas around Kinarut, rubbish is frequently dumped along roadsides, on vacant land, in drains and among bushes. 

What were once isolated incidents have gradually become common sights.

The issue cannot simply be blamed on irresponsible behaviour alone. 

While illegal dumping should never be condoned, authorities must also recognise the practical difficulties faced by many residents.

When disposal facilities become scarce, inconvenient or too far away, some people eventually stop caring. 

Others simply do not know where to dispose of their waste legally and affordably.

Communal bin centres once played an important role because not every household had access to private rubbish collection services. 

Many villagers depended heavily on these shared disposal points. The system may not have been perfect, but it worked because it was accessible.

Convenience matters greatly in waste management. Studies on municipal waste systems have consistently shown that the placement and accessibility of disposal facilities directly influence public behaviour and the effectiveness of waste management programmes.

When disposal facilities disappear without proper alternatives, illegal dumping often increases. 

Research on rural and semi-rural waste management has shown that areas lacking convenient disposal points become more vulnerable to roadside dumping and environmental pollution.

This appears to be unfolding in parts of Kinarut today, raising questions about whether other districts across Sabah may be facing similar challenges.

Residents are frustrated not because they refuse to cooperate, but because they feel abandoned by the system.

For families without regular waste collection services, transporting rubbish over long distances is not practical. 

Some households do not own suitable vehicles, while others cannot afford private waste disposal arrangements. 

In certain areas, rubbish collection schedules are also seen as inconsistent or insufficient for growing populations.

At the same time, Papar has grown significantly over the years. More housing developments, commercial activities and population growth naturally generate more waste. 

Yet many residents feel that instead of expanding waste disposal infrastructure, facilities have actually been reduced.

The consequences are becoming increasingly serious.  Roadside dumping not only creates unpleasant surroundings but also damages the image of Kinarut. 

Visitors travelling through the area are often greeted by piles of rubbish along roads and open spaces. 

Unmanaged waste attracts stray animals, produces foul odours, clogs drains and increases health risks.  

During heavy rain, rubbish can also worsen flooding by obstructing waterways and drainage systems.

Communities suffer as well. Residents who try to maintain clean neighbourhoods become discouraged when illegal dumping continues unchecked. 

Over time, a dangerous mentality develops — if others are dumping rubbish openly without consequence, more people begin doing the same.

This cycle becomes increasingly difficult to break.

There is also the issue of enforcement. Authorities often focus on penalising illegal dumping, but enforcement alone cannot solve the problem when sufficient disposal facilities are unavailable. 

Without realistic and accessible alternatives, punishment alone will only deepen public frustration.

Some communities have even organised private waste collection arrangements because official systems are seen as inadequate.

In one recent case involving the Kinarut Filipino Refugee Settlement, households reportedly paid privately to transport rubbish to landfill sites. 

This reflects how communities are trying to solve the problem themselves, although not everyone can afford such arrangements.

The situation calls for a serious review by the Papar District Council.

The council should revisit the decision to close communal bin centres and assess whether the alternative systems introduced are truly working for the people. 

Policies that may appear efficient on paper can fail if they do not reflect realities on the ground.

Several practical measures deserve consideration:

• Reopening strategic communal bin centres in high-demand areas.

• Increasing accessible disposal points in villages and housing areas.

• Improving the frequency and reliability of rubbish collection services.

• Providing larger and better-maintained communal bins in densely populated locations.

• Conducting proper public engagement before closing facilities relied upon by communities.

• Strengthening public education on responsible waste disposal while improving infrastructure.

• Introducing stricter enforcement only after adequate disposal facilities are restored.

Waste management is not merely about cleanliness. It is also about public dignity, health, environmental responsibility and quality of life.

A district cannot expect residents to maintain cleanliness if the necessary infrastructure is no longer available.

The people of Kinarut and other parts of the district deserve practical solutions, not merely criticism or warnings.

If roadside dumping is increasing, authorities must ask not only, “Why are people dumping rubbish illegally?” but also, “Have we made it difficult for people to dispose of waste properly?”

Ultimately, cleanliness is a shared responsibility between the public and the authorities. 

Residents must dispose of waste responsibly, but councils must also ensure that proper, accessible and functional disposal systems are available.

Closing bin centres without sufficient alternatives has merely shifted the burden onto the public — and the consequences are now visible along the roadsides of Kinarut and beyond.

Situl is a Senior Editor at Daily Express 

The views expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express. If you have something to share, write to us at: Forum@dailyexpress.com.my