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Daily Express
10-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Initiative to reduce straw usage at outlets
Published on: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 10, 2025 By: Sidney Skinner Text Size: This coffeeshop patron in Inanam was compounded for haphazardly disposing of his rubbish. KOTA Kinabalu food operators, including hawkers, risk having their licences suspended if they are found to be providing plastic and polystyrene straws with their beverages after the next four months. A spokesman for the agency's Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) said such action would be enacted in the worst-case-scenario. Advertisement 'City Hall licence-holders will initially be served with notices of non-compliance,' he said. 'Should they continue to disregard our formal request to refrain from handing out plastic and polystyrene straws to their customers, then we will have no choice but to suspend their licence.' 'Plastic and polystyrene straws cannot be recycled. On top of this, they contain compounds which are harmful to the human body. 'We want eatery and stall owners to switch to using paper straws or those made from organic material, like corn starch.' He said City Hall intended to do away with the use of plastic and polystyrene straws within its rating area from October 1 onwards. The spokesman said senior City Hall officials, including its Director General of Operations Robert Lipon and SWMD Director Leong Tze Fui, met with 150-200 individuals in the food and related sectors on Friday to make them aware of the agency's intention. He said personnel from local plastic manufacturing companies, as well as representatives from the Sabah branch of the Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM) and the Local Government and Housing Ministry were also present during the engagement session. 'By and large, the food operators and hawkers were supportive of our plan. But some asked if we could push back the October 1-start to a later date. 'We have given all those concerned between now and September 30 to fulfil our requirements. Four months should be more than enough time for them to deplete their existing stock of plastic and polystyrene straws.' He explained that the move to 'zero-ise' the use of these straws was a natural evolution of City Hall's 'No Plastic Bags' policy which was launched last year. 'We are not the first local authority in the country to prohibit the use of plastic and polystyrene straws in the country. Several in Peninsula Malaysia have already made done this, as has the Sarikei District Council in our neighbour State, Sarawak.' Meanwhile, litterbugs around the State Capital could find themselves RM10,000 poorer, if they persist in disposing of their rubbish, including cigarette butts, indiscriminately. The spokesman said this was the maximum fine which could be imposed under City Hall's (Anti-Litter) By-Laws 1985 (Amendment 2005), if the offenders were found guilty in court. He said legal action was initiated by the agency in extreme cases. 'A total of 81 wrongdoers received Anti-Litter compounds from SWMD inspectors during 29 'Ops Bersih' inspections carried out last month,' he said. These checks involved properties within the City Centre, as well as those in areas ranging from Likas to Manggatal, according to him. 'A compound of up to RM500 can be imposed for anyone caught contravening the By-Laws.' He said those in Kota Kinabalu, included the shophouses in Bandaran Berjaya, Kg Air, Sinsuran and Segama, as well as Centre Point Sabah. Checks were also made of the public areas on Jalan Gaya and Jalan Tugu, according to him. 'The highest number of litterbugs was nabbed around Kg Air (13), followed by Center Point (10) and Segama (9). When it came to areas outside the City limits, the spokesman said the SWMD team went to Inanam and Manggatal towns, as well as several commercial centres including Damai Plaza, Plaza Juta, Kingfisher Plaza, Inanam Taipan, Manggatal Plaza and Sulaman Sentral. On top of this, inspections were also carried out at Mini Putrajaya and the shops at Universiti Apartment, according to him. 'Inanam town and Taipan tied for the locations with the most offenders, in this instance, with a total of six litter-bugs caught in these areas. 'This was followed by the Kingfisher Plaza where four errant individuals were nabbed. Three each were taken to task around Sulaman Sentral and Damai Plaza.' * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Time of India
02-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Brooms down, but heads held high: NMC fetes retired sanitation staff first time ever
1 2 3 4 Nagpur: With a voice filled with pride along with a hint of fatigue, Suresh Guhe, who retired as a sanitation worker, said, "We cleaned what others didn't even want to look at — plastic-strewn roads, clogged drains, overflowing bins. And even now, the city hasn't learned to keep itself clean." On Saturday, Guhe and 39 other retired sanitation workers were honoured for the first time by the Solid Waste Management Department of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) in a heartfelt ceremony that acknowledged decades of unglamorous, back-breaking work that often went unnoticed. Held at the Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Standing Committee Hall, the event marked a historic shift in the way the civic body treats its sanitation staff. Each worker was presented with a tulsi sapling, a shawl, a coconut, and a certificate — small tokens that carried the weight of long-overdue gratitude. Among those honoured was Kavita Samundre, who retired after 32 years of service. She recalled the daily grind with a quiet strength. "People think cleaning is a lowly job, but we did it with dignity," she said. "Rain or shine, even during the Covid lockdown, we were on the streets before the city even woke up. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Recognition like this for the first time fills us with a sense of pride," she added. For decades, these workers swept streets, cleaned open drains, and managed public waste under difficult and often hazardous conditions. Many did so without adequate protective gear, and almost always without public appreciation. "There were days when we did the cleaning during heavy rains or festivals, without any leave or acknowledgement," said Chhayatai Mahajan, who discharged her duties in Dharampeth zone. "Getting recognised at the headquarters today feels like our efforts to keep the city clean were appreciated," she added. Deputy municipal commissioner Rajesh Bhagat, who presided over the ceremony, praised the retirees for their dedication, saying, "Cleanliness is not just a department's job — it's a city's character. But the character of our sanitation workers has been exceptional." Chief sanitation officer Dr Gajendra Mahalle also acknowledged their indispensable role in keeping Nagpur's public health infrastructure intact. "Nagpur has a new identity today because of their service. It's only right we honour them," he said. Though the event was celebratory, many retirees expressed concern over the persistent lack of civic sense plaguing the city — widespread littering, garbage dumping in open spaces, and an utter disregard for sanitation rules. "We've retired, but the mission for a clean city isn't over," one honouree said. For once, these men and women found themselves in the spotlight — not as invisible workers now confined to the margins of the society, but as the custodians of public hygiene who upheld the city's health, one broomstroke at a time. The honour, though symbolic, marked a step towards restoring the dignity of a workforce too long ignored.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Yahoo
City of Albuquerque hosting free E-Waste drop-off event
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – In celebration of Earth Day, the City of Albuquerque's Solid Waste Management Department and Keep Albuquerque Beautiful are hosting a free E-waste drop off event to help residents dispose of their old and unwanted electronics safely and responsibly. Story continues below Trending: ABQ family defies all odds after their fetus received a rare diagnosis Breaking: Pope Francis dies at 88 Crime: Repeat International District murder suspect facing new charges The drop off event will be Tuesday, April 22, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Eagle Rock Convenience Center Drop off site. Solid Waste Management employees will be on site to unload e-waste items. Safely discarding e-waste can prevent hazardous materials from getting into the environment. Residents disposing of e-waste just need to bring their items to the Eagle Rock Convenience Center and Solid Waste Management employees will take care of the rest. For more information, click here. Common e-waste items: Computers and Accessories desktops, laptops, tablets keyboards, mouse, cables, monitors Phones and Communication Devices cell phones, landline phones routers, modes, fax machines TV and Entertainment Electronics televisions DVD/blue ray players, VCR's stereos, speakers, gaming consoles Home and Office Electronics printers, scanners, copiers digital cameras, camcorders smart home devices Kitchen and Household Gadgets microwaves, toasters electric toothbrushes, razors, hairdryers Batteries and Circut Boards rechargeable and button cell batteries motherboards, chips, internal computer parts Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Health Alert issued for Albuquerque due to strong winds, blowing dust
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Albuquerque-Bernalillo County air quality program issued a health alert on Tuesday due to blowing dust. The health alert is effective from Tuesday, March 18 from 11:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. Bernalillo County residents with respiratory conditions are encouraged to limit outdoor activity. Windy across New Mexico with precipitation to the north Contractors and businesses that generate dust have also been issued to shut down immediately. Also, due to high winds, Albuquerque's Solid Waste Management Department is asking residents to help keep the community clean. Solid Waste will not pick up bins that have been knocked over by the wind. Drivers will not be able to complete their routes if the bins are not upright. They ask if you see your bin knocked over, to place it upright. They also ask if you see your neighbor's bin knocked over place it upright as well. People are also encouraged to report any downed limbs on roadways and public places by calling 311 or online. Limit your time spent outdoors and avoid outdoor exercise. Schools and senior citizen facilities may want to provide indoor activities to minimize exposure to elevated outdoor particulate levels. Keep windows and doors closed. If needed for comfort, use air conditioners or heating systems on recycle/recirculation mode. If symptoms of heart or lung disease occur, (including shortness of breath, chest tightness, chest pain, palpitations or unusual fatigue) contact your healthcare provider. Individuals with heart or lung disease should follow their health management plan from their health care provider. Asthmatic individuals should follow a prescribed asthma management plan. For more information visit Albuquerque's Health Alert information page. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
