Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Trash, trash everywhere...Where's the Trash can?



We hear complaints everyday about public waste and trash being dumped in the wrong places or not collected by Alam Flora or the local authority concerned. This happens not only in the towns and cities but also in the rural areas. We see pictures of uncollected and decomposing trash in the papers and on TV. We see the trash as we drive along the streets and even as we sit at a corner coffee-shop or a 'maplei to enjoy some food or a cuppa.

A Report probably based on Dr Nazri Yahya's Ph.D dissertation on Public Waste Management in Malaysia, mentioned that Malaysians produced some 17,000 tons of waste or rubbish/day in 2002. This is projected to become 30,000 tons/day in 2020. According to Alam Flora's report in the internet (no date) it collects 7,100 tons/day covering an area of 72.3 thousand sq km. Though Alam Flora is only responsible for waste management in the Central and Eastern Regions of Malaysia, Southern Waste handles the southern region and local authorities handle the rest, a collection of 7-17 thousand tons/day would certainly fall short of the amount generated today which must be around 22-23,000 tons/day or more, based on the above projection.

A internet report by the National Solid Waste Management Department under the Ministry of Local Government and Housing (undated) doesn't give any current projection, nor an analysis of the full capacity of public waste management services employed by the government and local authorities today, to deal with the problem. But judging from the complaints that we hear everyday and the sorry sights of rubbles, rubbish and trash that meet our eyes as we travel through the towns and cities, what more in the rural areas, we know that not enough is being done to ensure a high standard of sanitation in this country. The phenomena of smelly rubbish dumps anddrains clogged with putrid filth in both the cities and rural towns are only too familiar to all of us (see pics).



The authorities always blame the public for not keeping their towns and cities clean. This may be true if one cares to observe how people throw all sorts of rubbish out of their cars as they drive along or uncaringly dump the paper wrappers, plastic bags, cigarette stumps etc, along the street as they walk by or sit in a coffee shop to enjoy a drink and some snacks. Even In restaurants and modern fast-food centres like Mc Donald and KFC, the habit of clearing up your own rubbish is not as yet the rule in this country.

Yes, the public need to share the blame if cleanliness is not kept to a respectable standard. But why do people throw away the rubbish and trash so uncaringly and not into the bins or trash cans provided?? That's the Malaysians habit? Ha ha, that's a very general accusation made by the authorities. Not all Malaysians are uncouth. Read this quote taken from the internet on Waste Management:

"Whether you are indoors or outdoors, a plastic trash can is an indispensable part of life. Remember last time when you didn’t find the can in its place at the garden? You felt awfully angry and betrayed because the waste was lying in your hands waiting to be disposed of.
Waste management is one of the most important parts of managing an office or a household. This is where plastic trash cans come into play. They have become a part of our lives. We use them in the morning, in the noon, in the evening and at night. Whatever you do, work, play or meal, you need a plastic trash can to dispose of the wastes you produce. May it be medicine foils, used ink bottles, use and throw objects, or sour milk you use a plastic trash can."


Are there always a trash can within easy walking distance to throw away the rubbish that suddenly appears in your hand after eating something well-wrapped up? More often than not you just can't see any trash can or dustbin anywhere along the shops corridor, the street or the parking lot. So, just throw it into the nearest drain or anywhere that has already collected some rubbish. That's how rubbish dumps grow at odd places in the cities and towns.


Yes, there certainly is not enough trash cans or rubbish bins provided either by the waste management authorities, the local authorities and the restaurant and shopkeepers, or even the stall owners themselves, to invite the public to throw their rubbish, without having to search around and walk some distance away. It is as if the public is expected to and must keep the wrappings, the unneeded plastic bags, and other disposables in their pockets then search around for a proper rubbish can or dumpster to throw them in. It is certainly the responsibility of the authorities, the shopkeepers and the coffee shop or stall operators to provide the facilities to throw the rubbish in at the places under their control. You can't blame them if they take the liberty to thrown away what is not needed anywhere at all if no facilities are provided at the place where the things they needed were acquired. Only at their homes can they be expected to acquire the facilities themselves.

33 comments:

abdulhalimshah said...

Sdr Norzah,
All good habits start from home, and even if there is no trash can around, one should never throw rubbish indiscriminately all over the place.
Recently I saw the occupants from the inside of a luxury car simply throw trash out of the car nonchalantly, and it reflects the kind of habits being inculcated at home for this family.
At the Makam Tuan Hj Said in Seremban, there is a huge trash can placed right in front of the caretaker's hut, but you still see wrappers being thrown elsewhere. So it is not for lack of place to dispose your trash, but it is the poor training one receives at home.

norzah said...

Throwing rubbish from a luxury car suggests the value conflict we encounter in the face of modernization. We can't be too sure that the owner of the car comes from a 'kokak' family without self-discipline. Yet, on the road he or she doesn't adhere to the norms of the value status acquired. Why? I've heard of Singaporeans keeping all their rubbish in the car but once they crossed the causeway they happily dumped it on our road. Why? In the towns and Kuala Lumpur itself, I often find no rubbish can to throw your rubbish in, not like cities in the west where you find trash cans and all along the sides of the streets.Yes we have some in certain places, Akhi, but not enough. Check the corridors of the shops if you will. Often there is none in sight.

abdulhalimshah said...

Ya Akhi,
I have tried to access Google's arabic writing, but there are too many. Which particular one did you recommend?

norzah said...

Google "Typing arabic letters" and choose "Arabic Keyboard". I think you'll get it. Lepas tu add to benchmark for easy recall. Good luck, ya Akhi. Illal liqa.

rambomadonna said...

Norzah, did you read the Star report on Monday? My Goodness, the gotong royong to clean up Penang beaches organised by The Drainage and Irrigation Department last Sunday was like a BIG blow to our Penang community. Imagine, they found refrigerator, tyres, used condoms, lubricant cans and GOD knows what other unreported "trash" during the gotong royong.

BTW... am so happy today. I pass the "MEM besar" hospitality test hehehe

Al-Manar said...

In my part of the world the best one sees is huge metal trash bins placed along the roads at abou 400 meter intervals. Those who are conscious enough to keep their homes clean deliver their unwanted rubbish in plastic bags into the bins. The bins are generally overflowed before being emptied by contractors. Under that secenario it is hard to expect ribbish free environments. Beautiful sandy beaches are littered with platic bags, pampers and all. My home happens to face one of these sandy spots. But I am ashamed to take my visitors for a walk there. Where do we start is a question I ask myself, to keep ribbish free environment.

norzah said...

J, didn't read the Star report but will try to find it. Am not surprised at the rubbish that you'll on the beachesfor no regular cleanup seems to be done and do you see sufficient number of bins or trash cans planted along the beaches. In PD for example you can hardly find one supplied by the local authority. The big dumpsters are placed very far apart and always overspilling with smelly and gooey rubbish. I think the nation needs a campaign to clean up our rubbish like the one launced to clean up the toilet.
Glad to know you passed the crucial hospitality test with flying colors. Mem dari MOTOUR or state? Anyway I never doubt your acumen in that department, hehehe.

norzah said...

Pakcik al-Manar, the beach in your area seems to suffer from the same negligence and apathy from the public and the authority concerned. At least there're metal bins or dumpsters placed at 400 m intervals which I supposed are not emptied regularly. There should be smaller bins in the intervals with large signs to say "Use Me Please and Keep Our Beach Clean." I blame the authorities more for not supplying the bins. The public goes with the philosophy " I use it because it's there." Otherwise the beach becomes an open place to throw away all sorts of rubbish as my friend, Rambomadonna, said in her comment. Maybe you can raise the matter with the authority. Someone has to start the ball rolling. Salam.

rambomadonna said...

Mem Besar dari MOTOUR. Sekarang nie almost all of her friends in Penang have my HP number. Paham2 je lah

norzah said...

There you go, a huge step in the right direction, achieved in just a few days. Once you've the approval of the MEM BESAR, I suppose nothing else needs to be
viewed with trepidation, Just do what must be done, hehehe.

kaykuala said...

Sdr Norzah,
Sometime not too long ago, apparently someone put out a suggestion of constructing mini rubbish convertors in a northern state.Rubbish through Alam Flora like contractors are fed into these convertors to be later turned into fertilisers. It seemed the convertors could be dotted around within easy reach and the fertilisers could be both forex earners and savers.
The GE12 put a damper on the project.

norzah said...

Kk, I was also informed about the convertor plant by an authority in the Netherlands while still in the government. No one seemed interested in it because at that time some big guns were interested in the incinerators. Big money big commission. As much as we need efficient plants to burn up the rubbish we produce. I just think that we need a lot of the trash cans to be placed on the corridors of the shops, along the roads, in car parks etc so that the habit of throwing rubbish anywhere you like, can be eradicated.

Anonymous said...

Hi! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if
you knew where I could locate a captcha plugin for my comment form?

I'm using the same blog platform as yours and I'm having trouble finding one?
Thanks a lot!
Also visit my web-site ; amateur porn

Anonymous said...

I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself or did you
hire someone to do it for you? Plz respond as I'm looking to design my own blog and would like to know where u got this from. cheers
Feel free to surf my web site : partygalleries.com

Anonymous said...

Keep on writing, great job!
Feel free to surf my page : www.teenpornsexpussy.com

Anonymous said...

I absolutely love your website.. Excellent colors & theme.
Did you develop this website yourself? Please reply back as I'm attempting to create my own website and want to know where you got this from or exactly what the theme is named. Appreciate it!
Here is my webpage :: crazyteenpics.com

Anonymous said...

obviously like your website but you have to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts.

Several of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very bothersome to tell the truth
however I'll certainly come again again.
Here is my web site :: click through the up coming document

Anonymous said...

Hmm it looks like your site ate my first comment (it was super long)
so I guess I'll just sum it up what I wrote and say, I'm thoroughly enjoying your blog.
I as well am an aspiring blog blogger but I'm still new to everything. Do you have any tips for newbie blog writers? I'd certainly
appreciate it.
Also visit my weblog click the next website page

Anonymous said...

Greetings from California! I'm bored at work so I decided to browse your website on my iphone during lunch break. I enjoy the knowledge you present here and can't wait to take a look when I get
home. I'm amazed at how quick your blog loaded on my cell phone .. I'm not even using WIFI, just
3G .. Anyhow, good blog!
Here is my site ; homepage

Anonymous said...

May I just say what a comfort to discover someone
who truly knows what they're discussing online. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. A lot more people must look at this and understand this side of your story. I can't believe
you aren't more popular given that you surely have the gift.
Here is my web site ... Victoria _ Amateur Brunette Touching Her Tits And Masturbating Her Pussy Outdoor

Anonymous said...

I'm no longer certain where you're getting your info, but great topic.
I needs to spend a while learning much more or figuring out more.
Thank you for great information I was in search of this information for my mission.
Also visit my weblog ; hardcore sex

Anonymous said...

top [url=http://www.001casino.com/]casino[/url] hinder the latest [url=http://www.realcazinoz.com/]free casino[/url] free no store hand-out at the foremost [url=http://www.baywatchcasino.com/]casino online
[/url].

Anonymous said...

This is a good tip particularly to those new to the blogosphere.
Short but very precise info… Thank you for sharing this one.

A must read article!
Also visit my web-site :: Gambling

Anonymous said...

Hi there! I just want to offer you a big thumbs up for your excellent information
you've got here on this post. I'll be coming back
to your site for more soon.
Also visit my site ; Cheap YouTube Views

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure exactly why but this website is loading extremely slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a problem on my end? I'll check back later and see
if the problem still exists.

Feel free to visit my web-site ... nikon digital camera

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the marvelous posting! I seriously enjoyed reading it,
you might be a great author. I will make sure to bookmark your blog and will eventually come back from
now on. I want to encourage one to continue your great posts, have a
nice evening!

Review my blog post; powerblock dumbbells
my page :: cheap adjustable dumbbells

Anonymous said...

Greate pieces. Keep posting such kind of info on your page.
Im really impressed by your site.
Hello there, You've done an excellent job. I'll definitely digg it and in my view suggest to my friends.
I'm sure they'll be benefited from this web site.


Look at my homepage ... gprs setting

Anonymous said...

I don't leave a response, however after browsing a ton of remarks on "Trash, trash everywhere...Where's
the Trash can?". I do have 2 questions for you if it's allright. Could it be simply me or do a few of the comments appear as if they are coming from brain dead visitors? :-P And, if you are posting at additional online social sites, I would like to keep up with everything fresh you have to post. Would you list of every one of all your social community pages like your twitter feed, Facebook page or linkedin profile?

Visit my blog - electronic dance music

Anonymous said...

When someone writes an article he/she retains the image of a user in his/her mind that
how a user can be aware of it. So that's why this paragraph is perfect. Thanks!

Check out my homepage sexygirlchat.net

Anonymous said...

Hello! Do you know if they make any plugins to safeguard against
hackers? I'm kinda paranoid about losing everything I've worked hard on.
Any tips?

Also visit my web page www.babesflick.com

Anonymous said...

It's an remarkable article designed for all the internet viewers; they will obtain benefit from it I am sure.

Visit my weblog; horney girls sucking

Anonymous said...

There's definately a lot to know about this issue. I really like all of the points you've made.


Feel free to surf to my site: sexyfuckteens.com

Anonymous said...

I constantly emailed this webpage post page to all my friends, since if
like to read it after that my friends will too.


Look into my homepage ... http://www.sexykoo.com