Iskandar Puteri, 10 April 2023

ISKANDAR PUTERI: The amount of solid waste, in particular food waste, collected by the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) during Ramadan is increasing every year.

Deputy local government development minister Akmal Nasrullah Nasir said 252,521 tonnes of solid waste were collected during Ramadan last year compared with 208,143 tonnes in 2019.

“The amount increases every year, and in the past five years, we have seen an increase of up to 21%,” he told a press conference after launching the Johor SWM Environment’s Hari Raya operation last night.

“From the ministry’s point of view, the first step is to reduce the amount of food waste.

“Based on the data provided, a total of 44.5% of solid waste collected is food waste and that number is quite substantial in terms of value.”

SWM Environment general manager Norlisam Nordin said 4,475 employees, with 588 machines comprising compactor trucks, open tipper lorries, and roll-on-roll-off (RORO) trucks, will be on duty during Hari Raya.

“The operation will focus on solid waste collection, especially in 150 areas, including those with a high Muslim population, and also in the city centres and main roads,” he said.