Technology Drives Melaka’s Cleaner, Smarter Waste Management

By Shanika Abdullatib

MELAKA, Aug 23 (Bernama) -- For most people, a rubbish truck may simply be a vehicle that arrives to collect waste from outside their homes.

However, for M. Sirether, 49, the truck has become part of his 25-year journey and a witness to how the solid waste management industry has transformed alongside technological advancements, in line with the spirit of National Day and Malaysia Day 2026 (HKHM26) towards building a cleaner, more prosperous and sustainable Malaysia.

From work that once relied heavily on manual labour and monitoring, Sirether now sees rubbish trucks equipped with tracking systems, while each waste bin is assigned a serial number to enable its location to be identified more easily.

Having started his career as a supervisor with SWM Environment Sdn Bhd in 2001, Sirether has not only spent more than two decades managing waste but has also witnessed first-hand the changes that have made operations faster, more organised and technology-driven.

He said the use of the Automatic Vehicle Location System (AVLS) allows the movement of rubbish trucks to be monitored, while serial numbers on waste bins help the management team identify their location and ownership.

"When a bin is lifted, its serial number is recorded. This allows us to easily know which area the bin is located in, who the owner is, and if there is any loss or replacement, we can track it.

"Technology has also reduced reliance on physical labour through the use of high-pressure water jet machines, which make it easier to clean covered drains," he told Bernama.

Sirether said technology alone, however, was not enough to make Melaka truly free from waste-related issues, as the attitude of some members of the public who continue to dispose of rubbish indiscriminately remains one of the main challenges faced by cleaning personnel on the ground.

For operations supervisor Suhaimi Jantan, 48, cleanliness carries greater significance for Melaka as a tourism and heritage state, particularly during weekends, public holidays and major events.

With 18 years of experience in the field, he said collection operations in certain areas such as the city centre and commercial zones need to begin earlier or be carried out at midnight to minimise disruption to residents and road users.

"During celebrations such as National Day or New Year’s Eve, there will definitely be more visitors, especially at celebration venues or tourist hotspots. Therefore, we can anticipate an increase in waste volume, and this is where technology greatly helps workers carry out their responsibilities more quickly," he said.

Meanwhile, SWM Environment corporate general manager Mohd Norlisam Mohd Nordin said manpower deployment in each area was determined based on the size, type and scope of services, as well as key performance indicators (KPIs).

He said Melaka faces a large-scale solid waste management operation, with an average of about 1,100 tonnes of waste collected daily, equivalent to around 33,000 tonnes monthly.

"The amount requires a large workforce, with the company having about 1,500 employees throughout the state, in addition to more than 500 cleaning personnel from appointed contractors.

"Therefore, technology has become one of the key drivers in ensuring more efficient operations, including the use of AVLS, fleet management systems, electric three-wheeled motorcycles (EV Sidecar) and automatic sweeping machines," he said.

He stressed that technology was not merely about making work easier, but also helped SWM Environment deliver services that were more efficient, smart and sustainable.

-- BERNAMA