Everyone Dumps 1.24 kg Of Garbage Daily
By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - An environmental officer revealed that Brunei dumps 490 tonnes of garbage a day, equivalent to 180,000 tones a year.

Paper constitutes the largest share with 33% followed by food waste with 25%, plastic waste, metal and glass.

Pg. Shamhary B. Pg. DP Hj Mustapha from the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation made his presentation on "The Effects of Garbage Disposal to the Environment".

Based on the department's findings from departmental stores, around one million plastics which is non-biodegradable, is distributed every month.

A previous survey indicated every individual in the country dumps 1.24 kg of garbage daily.

The conservative figure increases up to 15% if one takes into account garbage collected from business outlets, schools. The figure increases at industrial sites.

The Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation is updating figures on rubbish disposal and is working on ways for waste disposal systems for the Belait and the Brunei/Muara districts.

Based on the international standard, the rate of garbage disposal in Brunei is categorised as from a high-income country. The disposal of garbage is very high and the garbage composition resembles that of the developed countries, he said.

In low-income countries such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, India, Thailand and Sri Lanka, the disposal is below 1 kilogramme.

It is projected that the amount of rubbish from low-income countries will increase due to the improved standard of living.

An international organisation, UNEP, also found that paper will only be degradable after six weeks; plastic, 400 years; aluminium cans, 200 years; biodegradable diaper, one year; and disposable diaper, 450 years.

Uncollected garbage poses a problem to the environment and ends up into our rivers and waters, blocks waterways and contributes to flooding.

It is also a breeding ground for mosquitoes and attracts scavengers.

Residents living near the garbage dumping ground are at risk from rodents, while employees are exposed to contamination and toxic waste.

Based on UNEP figures, seven billion tonnes of garbage enters the sea annually, killing over 100,000 turtles and sea mammals due to the consumption of plastics.

Garbage disposal affects the biodiversity and causes imbalance of ecology, and emits toxic fumes. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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