By William Isau
SIBU, April 2: Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) has opened Sarawak’s first permanent e-waste collection centre at Grand Height here in an effort to address the growing concern over the risks posed by improper disposal of electrical and electronic waste in the city.
An elated SMC chairman Clarence Ting, who launched the centre today, said the Council is eyeing to set up more such centres to enable people to dispose off their electrical and electronic waste conveniently.
He said that the Council will work with Sarawak Information Technology Association (ICT) Sibu Branch to open up more of these e-waste collection centres.
“The association will identify the place and propose it to SMC. We will provide the place while the Association will manage it,” he added.
The second centre is being planned at the open area of Jalan Pedada, near to Taman Selera Muhibbah.
On the launch of the first collection centre in Sarawak, Ting said: “We are the first in Sarawak. It is part of our efforts to keep Sibu clean. We urge the public to take advantage of this centre to dispose off any electronic and electrical goods.”
Sarawak ICT Sibu Branch vice chairman Wong Ing Ang emphasised that this e-waste collection centre is the first in Sarawak that involved cooperation between the government and non-governmental organisation.
“Other places in the State still did not have an electronic and electrical waste disposal site.
“We are very happy because the SMC has provided a place for that purpose and it will be managed by the Association,” he said.
The centre is open every Saturday from 8am to 12noon.
“People can send their electronic and electrical waste here and it’s free,” he added.
Wong pointed out that the proceeds from the waste collection would be channelled to welfare homes in Sibu as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR).— DayakDaily
