THE Ministry of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government is looking at the feasibility of having an environmentally friendly and more modern solid waste management system for the Sri Aman sub region as a whole.
Its Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil said the Ministry has initiated a comprehensive survey to evaluate the feasibility of closing the existing dumping site at Entulang, Sri Aman and to develop the 8.6090- hectare site at Bukit Gran Sri Aman which was approved way back in 2008.
“The existing dump site at Entulang, Sri Aman is only one hectare in size and opened in 1983.
“As of today, it is almost reaching its maximum carrying capacity or life span and it is due for closure in a not distant future,” he said.
He said this when replying to Mong Dagang (GPS-Bukit Begunan) during the question-and-answer session on Thursday.
Earlier, Mong asked whether the government has any concrete plan to close the Sri Aman District Council waste dumping site at Entulang, Sri Aman and identify a new alternative site for waste disposal as the current dumping site is not able to accommodate the increase in both domestic or industrial waste.
Penguang added as a short term measure, the solid waste now deposited at Entulang dump site can be transported to a 2.5- hectare Lingga open dump site which is about 48.6km or 55 minutes drive from Sri Aman.
“In the long term, the Sarawak government is currently engaging with the relevant stakeholders to formulate environmentally friendly and sustainable solid waste management practices and other cutting edge technologies.
“This is in consistent with our policies of going green in line with the Sustainable Development Goals 13 (SDG 13) and the ESG principles and our very own PCDS 2030 which would be implemented in phases throughout Sarawak in our efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change worldwide,” he said.
On the estimated waste being disposed of at the Entulang, Sri Aman, he said it is about 130 tonnes per day.
