Plastic straws blocking Sandakan manholes
Published on: Sunday, January 13, 2019
By: Winnie Kasmir
SANDAKAN: Beverage operators and consumers of Kim Fung Market off Mile 4, here, are encouraged to reduce the usage of plastic, especially straws.
Elopura Assemblyman Calvin Chong said he was informed that one of the main contributors of manhole blockage at Kim Fung Market is due to plastic straws.
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“Based on one of the sewage pipes and also manholes maintained by the Public Works Department (PWD), they had found plastic straws, among other wastes.
“Our people still lack awareness in reducing the use of plastic straws. Thus, refrain from throwing the straws into the drains,” he said.
Calvin said although maintenance works had been carried out regularly by PWD, the effort will be in vain if people did not cooperate.
“Therefore, I would like to remind people to be responsible with their own rubbish. To educate their children not to indiscriminately throw rubbish as cleanliness is everyone’s responsibility,” he said.
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He said the blocked manholes and sewage pipes around Kim Fung Market not only emit stench but also discharge dirty liquid.
To avoid the issue from continue, rubbish shall not be thrown into the nearby drain.
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Kim Fung Market at Mile 4 is well-known for its fresh seafood, vegetables and fruits and variety of meals.
Meanwhile, an environmental education and public awareness programme was held recently on a global solution to the plastic pollution problem by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) via the EcoCampus Management Centre and Hokkaido Sapporo Keisei High School (a designated Super Science High School).
The programme commenced with a morning session of micro plastic sampling at ODEC, UMS beach.
Eight students from Japan, eight from SM All Saints KK and six from UMS joined hands to sample micro plastics from the beach at ODEC using the quadrat sampling method.
The sampled sand was later sorted for any plastic debris smaller than 5mm, which was classified as micro plastics. Sorting included visual separation, floating and burning.
The data was eventually tabulated and compared with results gathered from Japan (Itanki-hama & Dream Beach) and Australia (Sunshine Coast).
A highlight of the programme was the ‘Sustainability Pledge Signing’ Session between UMS and Hokkaido Sapporo Keisei High School cordially led by UMS Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs & Alumni) representing UMS Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Ismail Ali, Hiroshi Nakahara from Hokkaido Sapporo Keisei High School.
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