KUCHING: Garbage is a modern world problem, and as one village along Batang Salak can attest, it is something that had swept into their village with the high tide in recent years.
Henable (third left) briefing Yuichi (second right) and Yasushi (right) about Kampung Salak, while Wahid (third right) observes.
During a visit to Kampung Salak yesterday, reporters learned from Penghulu Wahid Mat that their trash consisted mainly of paper and plastic.
“We have no fixed way of disposing our garbage. Some of us burn it. Some dump it into the river.”
Wahid was one of the hosts of a special visit by Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) officers and Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), who were there to find solutions to the village’s trash problems.
The Japanese delegation consisted of Jica project coordinator Yanazume Yuki, Tochigi International
Association project director Uyama Yuichi and Motegi Town Environment Division chief Nagashima Yasushi.
They were accompanied by DBKU Environmental Health officer Henable Hendry Nessan, and Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) officers.
Henable said they were there as part of DBKU’s Clean, Beautiful, Safe (CBS) programme.
“Our objective here today with Jica and NREB is to survey the conditions, especially cleanliness, waste management and environment. Since Jica had their experts here, we brought them along.”
They are still in the early stages of planning an action plan, which will consist of training key people in the village in EM (Effective Microorganisms) Bokashi.
This composting method will turn kitchen waste into organic fertiliser that can be used on their vegetable beds.
According to the official website, EM consists of a wide variety of effective, beneficial and non-pathogenic microorganisms produced through a natural process, and not chemically synthetised or genetically engineered.
Yuichi said they were already implementing the project in Kampung Bako, which shares the problem.
“The most important thing is environmental education for the next generation.
“I want to tell people to please keep their environment clean,” he said.
The 300-year old Kampung Salak is located on an island. With no road access and no collection services, they have to find another way to cope.
The current population of 704 from 108 households generate an average of 15kg of waste each day.
As far as Penghulu Wahid Mat is concerned, the village welcomes this effort by DBKU to save them from being buried in trash.