KUCHING: The public are urged to properly dispose electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) at premises approved by the Department of Environment (DoE).
DoE Sarawak director Hamzah Mohammad said many are still unaware that the household e-waste is a waste listed under Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005, whereby it poses danger to environment and men.
“We encourage members of the public to cooperate with DoE to hand over their electronic items which could no longer be used to premises licensed by the department.
“By nurturing the attitude of care towards environment, I believe we can manage the control of e-waste in accordance to existing regulations,” he said.
He told this to reporters when officiating at the state-level Electrical and Electronic Waste Collection Campaign held at Metrocity Matang today.
He further said among the e-waste collected were faulty computers, televisions, washing machines, telephones, etc, which needed to be dispose of properly through premises approved by the DoE.
“As of now (2.30pm), we have successfully collected about 27 metric tonnes of e-waste from the public around Kuching.
“These e-wastes will be brought to the identified premises and dispose of through correct measures as enshrined in the regulations,” he said.
The one-day programme, held from 8am until 5pm, was co-organised by Sarawak DoE and GVE Strategic Waste Sdn Bhd in conjunction with the National Environment Day 2020 celebration which will take place at Kota Bharu, Kelantan on Oct 24.
The campaign aims to collect all e-waste items to be thrown or managed properly by licensed premises approved by the DoE to ensure that the people would not dispose of waste everywhere.
After Metrocity, the campaign will take place at the Institute of Teacher Education Tun Abdul Razak Campus, Kota Samarahan on Oct 31, and in Bintulu on Nov 7 and Nov 8.
Also present were DoE Sarawak deputy director Mohamad Zaihan Lek and GVE Strategic Waste Sdn Bhd managing director Sim Yian Chai.
