GURNEY Drive continues to be smeared by an indiscriminate form of rubbish dumping where in less than two hours, some 2,000 volunteers who participated in a clean-up campaign there fished out 3,193kg of waste.
Among the ‘good catch’ fished out during the ‘Cleaning Gurney 2011’ campaign were a two-seater sofa, wires, tree trunks, plastic bags, bottles, clothes, polystyrene containers, ropes, cigarette butts and plastic cups.
The participants, clad in bright yellow T-shirts, were seen combing the shoreline to pick up the rubbish.
They had gathered near the Gurney Drive roundabout as early as 6.30am for registration and light refreshments.
The enthusiastic participants were then given a briefing before they set out at 7.30am to clean up the area last Sunday.
Heavy 'catch': Volunteers removing the two-seater sofa found at the shore of Gurney Drive during the cleanup campaign State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who officiated the event, was assisted by Pulau Tikus assemblyman Koay Teng Hai and others to haul up the discarded sofa.
Chow said the cleanup was to inculcate awareness among the public on the importance of keeping the environment cleaner and greener.
He said that Penangites need to change their mindset by making it a habit to preserve the environment.
Koay said the turnout for the cleanup was encouraging with participants from 51 organisations.
“This is the fourth year that we are organising this event. The consolation is we have collected fewer plastic bags this year but there are still many polystyrene packagings. I hope the state can consider imposing an overall ban on polystyrene as currently, only the hawkers at local councils-run food courts have stopped using it,” he said.
Developers also have to be mindful of methods in disposing construction waste, and not push the responsibility to contractors, he said.
He suggested that the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) imposed a punishment of community work on litterbugs caught along Gurney Drive.
“I am willing to organise such cleanup programmes every month,” he added.
Koay later launched a ‘Green Office’ desk, which is an extension of his service centre.
It is aimed at helping organisers of greenery campaigns and events obtain permits and licences from the relevant authorities.
“I often receive calls from the public inquiring on how to organise activities in terms of applying for permits. With the Green Office, all the people need to do is submit the details and information of their events and we will help them apply for permits and licences free of charge. Currently we are offering this services to those from Pulau Tikus,” he said, adding that they hope to expand the service if the response is encouraging.
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