Penang DOE seizes illegal dumpsite on padi field

Its director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said the department received a report on open burning activities at the site and investigations found that some 0.8 hectares of the padi field has been used as an illegal dumpsite for solid waste, construction waste and suspected scheduled waste.

"Further investigations found 30 bags of industrial waste that have been illegally disposed of at the site and samples of the waste have been sent to the Chemistry Department for analysis.

"The Penang DOE has conducted investigations on several premises in the state and managed to identify the premises where the waste had originated from as well as the landowner, tenants and several other parties that may have been involved in the case," she said in a statement today.

She added that all parties involved have been called to have their statements recorded and through discussions with them, the premises that produced the waste as well as tenants of the land have agreed to bear the cost of cleaning and disposal of the waste and other related costs.

Sharifah Zakiah all the parties involved also agreed to appoint Syarikat Kualiti Alam Sdn Bhd to manage the cleaning works and disposal of the scheduled waste categorised as SW204 and SW408.

"The cleaning works started today and are expected to be completed in seven days," she said.

She added that the department has opened an investigation paper on the case under Section 24B and 34B of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and has also informed the Seberang Perai City Council about the illegal dumpsite.

Sharifah Zakiah said DOE reminded the industries to always comply with the Environmental Quality Act 1974 including on issues related to scheduled waste management, adding that manufacturers are responsible for ensuring that all waste is only sent to premises licenced by the department.