SIBU: Any person who throws rubbish in a public place will be fined RM500 with effect from 1 July 2017.
There are four primary reasons for littering, namely no sense of ownership, a belief that others will pick up after them, litter is tolerated and littering is convenient regardless of place or time, according to Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King.
“Litter comprises all objects that do not naturally occur in environment but are nevertheless found there at,” added Tiong.
“Despite council having initiated many green environmental programmes to enhance the civic consciousness through anti-littering campaigns, this type of littering has increased significantly.
“Now, council shall look into a need to reduce the amount of general litter and to make the public aware that throwing litter is an expensive habit which carries a fixed compound fee of RM500 with immediate effect from 1 July 2017,” he said at a full council meeting here on Wednesday.
Tiong called on schools to hold more activities in line with anti-littering campaign such as poster design on anti-littering, little warden programme within school compound and so forth.
“Also all operators of supermarket and retail stores should strictly implement ‘no plastic bag’ policy in their daily operation.
“At the same time, members of general public are therefore urged to switch their habit by using paper bags, biodegradable carriers or carry their own shopping bags,” he added.
