KUCHING: Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) needs RM5 million to kick start its eco-depo project at Demak Laut.
Mayor Datuk Haji Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai said a 10-acre piece of land at Demak Laut had been approved for the project.
“In order to kick start this project, we need about RM5 million to put up the whole infrastructure,” he disclosed to the media after officiating DBKU monthly assembly at DBKU auditorium at Bukit Siol here yesterday.
When the eco-depo project is completed, the mayor said the public will know where to throw their recyclable wastes and it will reduce illegal dumping and also to create recycling culture among the public.
He said what happened now is some of these wastes can be recycled but they are just thrown away and dumped illegally. Items like the chairs, he said, these can be refurbished and probably can be sold at a cheaper price.
“You may not want it but other people may want it or need it. So this is where we feel that with the existence of the e-depo, we will not only solve the problem of illegal dumping but there will be a business in recycling of furniture, mattresses , tyres and so on because if they are just dumped around at the roadside they can create breeding ground for mosquitoes,” he said.
“This is where with e-depo can come in. What we want to do is in order to kick start the project we need about RM5 million to put up the whole infrastructure. And we hope that all the illegal dumping will at least be minimized,” he said.
So this is where DBKU will be working this year to get this e-depo project off the ground, he said.
“We want this project to start this year. It must start this year. But the difficulty is how to convince the state government. In our paper there will be a requirement for RM5 million to kick start the project, after that it will finance itself,” he said.
“What we will do is we will appoint contractors. We will have specific areas at the E-depo to put bottles, glasses , papers and so on. That is how we want to do it,” he said.
“Hopefully once it starts it will help minimise illegal dumping and people throwing away recyclable wastes,” he said.
“We just need the money. Now we got the land but please give us the money,” he said.
According to Abang Julai, the other projects that DBKU want to start this year are the Unity Park and DBKU Branch Office Building.
These projects, he said when completed will be something that the Kuching people can really be proud of.
Meanwhile, in his speech at the function yesterday, Abang Julai called on DBKU staff to continue to give their best service so that DBKU will continue to be superb.
At the function also, Jumaini Haili was announced at the new director of DBKU and Tuan Haji Hasbi bin Suhaili as deputy director.
Also 20 DBKU officers who had been in service for 25 years with DBKU were given recognition. Five newly appointed staff were also introduced.
They are Chai Hui Yung, Dayang Halimah Binti Abang Omar, Mohamad Shahdan Bin Sawal, Anaestacia Fredda Anak Albert and Julia Anak Janggong.
