MIRI: The Miri City Council has launched a citywide festival cleaning programme ahead of the Chinese New Year celebration, deploying dozens of large waste containers to manage an expected spike in domestic and bulky refuse.
The programme, which runs from Feb 2 to 15, will see 44 roll-on, roll-off bins placed at 46 strategic locations across housing estates throughout the city.
The initiative is aimed at preventing illegal dumping and safeguarding public health during one of the busiest festive periods of the year.
Speaking at the council’s meeting on Monday (Jan 26), Mayor Adam Yii Siew Sang said the council was taking a proactive stance to ensure cleanliness and environmental protection as households prepare for the celebration.
The bins are distributed across key residential zones, including Taman Tunku, Lambir, Luak, Jalan Luak Bakam, Jalan Riam Lopeng, Krokop, Piasau, Pujut, Piasau Utara, Tudan, Desa Senadin, Permyjaya, Desa Murni, Vista Perdana, Lutong and Kuala Baram.
Yii said the temporary placement of the bins was designed to make responsible waste disposal easier for residents, particularly for bulky items often discarded during festive spring cleaning.
He warned that illegal dumping continued to be a serious concern for the city, undermining cleanliness standards and posing real risks to public health and safety.
Improperly discarded waste, he said, could block drainage systems, worsen flooding and create breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other disease carrying pests.
The council is using the programme not only as a service delivery exercise but also as a public education effort to reinforce civic responsibility and environmental awareness.
Residents have been urged to make full use of the provided facilities and to avoid dumping rubbish along road verges, drains, road reserves and open spaces.
Yii reminded the public that illegal dumping is an offence under existing local by-laws and that enforcement action may be taken against offenders.
For bulky waste that cannot be accommodated in the temporary bins, the public are advised to dispose of such items directly at the Kuala Baram Landfill, in line with operating hours and disposal guidelines.
The council said the success of the programme would depend heavily on public cooperation, stressing that cleanliness during the festive season is a shared responsibility.
Further information can be obtained from the Miri City Council Office at 085-433501 or the Public Cleansing and Maintenance Section at 085-442411.
