The company’s chief executive, Mohd Zain Hassan, said 60 per cent of the areas had been cleaned up.

“Taman Beserah Permai and Pusat Khidmat Gebeng Jaya were the most badly affected areas with bauxite dust and the areas have been cleaned up,” he told reporters.

“The cleaning operations were carried out at the badly affected roads such as Jalan Kuantan-Pelabuhan, Jalan Bukit Goh, Jalan Bukit Kuantan, Jalan Sungai Lembing, Jalan Kuantan Bypass, Jalan Gebeng Bypass, Jalan Jerangau Jabor and Jalan Bukit Sagu-Cherul.

He sounded a warning of high costs involved in cleaning up the bauxite waste as the operation involved 30 staff and 17 machines specially brought for the purpose. “However, the cost will be discussed only after we complete the cleaning operations as what is important for Alam Flora is the well-being of the residents health,” he said.

Mohd Zain also spoke of an increase in community awareness about separating solid waste, which began on Sept 1.

“Statistics showed that more than 300 tonnes of recycled items were collected from houses within two months of the implementation. This shows a positive development in encouraging people to recycle.

“The media’s role in giving information to the public for example on the collection schedules contributed to the success,” he said.

-BERNAMA