By  KATHLEEN ANN KILI

JOHOR BARU: Residents have been responding well to the mandatory separation at source (SAS) solid waste disposal method since it was introduced two years ago.

State SWCorp director Asri Amat said that a survey, which involved 8,000 premises in 325 residential areas, showed that 60.4% understood and adhered to the SAS implementation.

“Some 29.1%, most of whom are city-dwellers, understood but refuse to practice the method, citing ‘busy at work’ as their excuse.

“The remaining 10.5% claimed that they were unaware and did not understand the SAS ruling. However, this involved those in more rural areas,” he said in an interview here.

Asri said the corporation has been conducting SAS briefings along with clean-up sessions to educate the people on the programme’s importance.

“We are also reaching out to the younger generation by carrying out talks at education institutions, including at kindergartens, schools and colleges, to help them cultivate the practice from a young age.

“We will conduct relevant programmes and continue the survey from time to time as well as get feedback from the public on its effectiveness,” he noted.

Asri also said that SWCorp had issued 29 compounds of up to RM500 to premises that failed to comply with the SAS method.

In September 2015, the Government implemented the SAS programme under the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act 2007 (Act 672) in six states including Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Perlis, Kedah as well as the Federal Territories.

Under the ruling, offenders will be compounded between RM50 and RM500 for both landed and non-landed premises for failing to separate their waste accordingly.

For landed premises owners, for the first offence the fine is RM50, RM100 for the second offence and RM500 for the third offence.

For non-landed property, the Joint Management Body can be fined RM100, 200 and RM500 respectively.

After the third offence, legal action will be taken.