Sungai Akar dumpsite a health hazard

MENACE of houseflies in the Subok/Sungai Akar rubbish landfill area has not only a persistent nuisance but also poses serious health hazard.

During a visit by The Brunei Times to the residential area near the landfill the fact was confirmed with flies rampant everywhere from the windows and doors trying to get into the houses.

One resident, Hj Mohammad Suriadi Hj Abdullah, 36, who lives close to the road near the landfill, said that although he has only been living in the area for the past two years, the flies have caused more than a nuisance.

When inquired by The Brunei Times what measures he was taking to protect his family especially with five children and keep his house in clean, hygienic and healthy conditions, he said "the only thing we can do is close all the doors and windows to prevent the flies from creeping in but some do occasionally get in and the best way is to shoo them out".

With regard to complaints to relevant authorities, he said that his fellow neighbours had in fact informed him they had earlier made complaints to the relevant authorities but they are yet to see any no action being taken.

He added that he had heard that the landfill would be moved to another area back in 2000 but until now there has been no word on it or any sign of landfill being shifted to another place.

What has aggravated the problem is the fact that in the last seven years the landfill has become bigger and wider.

A housekeeper from one of the other residents told The Brunei Times that flies in the area have created numerous problems for the residents especially how to keep flies away from their kitchen while cooking food. Many families have put up fly traps outside their kitchens to where they had to change daily.

True to her word, The Brunei Times found a whole sandpaper like device full of dead flies outside the kitchen.

A mother of three who wishes to remain anonymous, commentedd that all her children go to the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah School and since the school is in the vicinity of the landfill the school canteen is full of houseflies, raising serious concerns about hygiene and quality of food consumed by the students.

She said that she is not the only concerned parent as there are others who share similar views.

Fortunately, it is the Ramadhan month and the students do not buy anything from the canteen but "she always prefers to give children home cooked food to safeguard their health".

More than 300 tonnes of waste per day is recorded in Brunei-Muara District alone and most of it goes to the landfill in Sungai Akar.

As part of the Seventh National Development Plan, solid waste management has been identified as a significant problem in the country.

Solid waste generation rate has been estimated to be 1 kg/capita/day and is likely to increase in future.

Solid wastes generated in Brunei Darussalam mainly consist of paper products (33 per cent), food wastes (25 per cent), plastics (16 per cent), metals (14 per cent), glass (5 per cent), and others (7 per cent). Plastics, in particular, pose a significant environment problem.

As plastics degrade very slowly, plastic wastes will accumulate in the environment.

The current consumer preference for plastic products will result in increase in the use of plastic in the future, thereby worsening the problem.

Collection and disposal systems are in place but problems are evident by the occurrences of indiscriminate dumping in housing areas and roadsides.

Limitations in manpower resources and technical capabilities have resulted in poorly managed landfills which present potential environmental and health hazards.

The Brunei Times