A TOTAL of 1,063 tonnes of waste was collected at Kampong Ayer alone from June to September 2009.
The figure from the first phase of the Brunei River clean-up project, which began in December 2008 and is expected to be completed next year, has further highlighted the need for an integrated waste management system to reduce the amount of waste the nation produces.
Speaking at the public briefing on the progress of the phase one of Brunei River clean-up project, Mohd Noor Hj Mohd Salleh, environment officer at the Department of Environment and Recreational Parks (Jastre) said that implementing the integrated system will require participation of all sections and stakeholders. It will include institutional framework, waste generation, treatment and disposal, collection which focuses on the 3R concept (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle).
"With this system, the amount of waste that goes to the dumping ground (landfill) will be less, Insyallah", he added.
A research study conducted in 2005 projected that in the year 2024, Brunei will have an estimated 526,000 population and will produce 4.5 million tonnes of waste (estimated waste will be managed in 20 years projection).
In the four-month period of the clean-up project, it was noted that paper and plastics formed the top categories of collected waste products, said Hj Mohd Noor. "Plastic is an issue (for us). Burning it (plastic) will emit toxic gases and it is non-degradable. The use of biodegradable plastic or reusable bag will be promoted through projects under Jastre," he said.
He added, "From Jastre's observation, many public areas are polluted with plastics. We received a lot of complaints on this. Such actions threatened the ecology of the place where the plastics are discarded."
He said, "The Brunei River clean-up project have shown good results so far. It looks clean but the public awareness campaign has to continue, so that we can continue to take care of the river".
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