Pulau Burung Landfill & Marshland, Nibong Tebal

Pulau Burung Landfill & Marshland (5 May 2010)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Pulau Burung Landfill is a refuse landfill maintained by the Seberang Perai Municipal Council in Nibong Tebal. It is located at Pulau Burung, an island created by a canal linking Sungai Kerian and Sungai Tengah.

Pulau Burung is covered mostly by mangrove trees, except for the landfill area and the marshland created out of clearing the mangrove forest. The marshland is now an important habitat for several types of local birds. The marshland is a favourite spot among bird watchers. On my visit, I spotted the tern, grebe, lesser tree duck, marsh hen, marsh sandpiper, to name a few.

The landfill area is a prohibited zone, so the general public are not allowed to enter. From the outside, you can see lorries bringing in refuse from all over Penang to be dumped here.

Updates

26 May: It was reported in the Sun newspaper that the ponds where the waterfowls are seen are in fact contaminated with leachate, an untreated liquid derived from garbage. Leachate is taxic, as it contains trace metals such as mercury and cadmium. At the moment, the ponds are only contained by the bunds. There is concern that in the event of a spill, the leachate may seep into the water system and into the sea.

According to the Sun report, State Health, Welfare, Environment and Caring Society Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said that a stop-gap measure was to use water tankers to transport the leachate from the landfill to an Indah Water Konsortium treatment centre. At a press conference held at his office the day before, he said the spillage was worrying as it could adversely affect the environment and aquaculture farms in the area.

Getting there

Leave the North South Expressway Northern Route (E1) at Exit 156 (Jawi Interchange). After the toll plaza, turn left and go south along Federal Route 1. After the Nibong Tebal Steel Arch Bridge, exit Federal Route 1 and follow the exit ramp under the bridge. Enter the Nibong Tebal town, and then turn right down Jalan Ooi Kar Seng (P173). Follow this road even as it curves left and right, and you will arrive at the entrance of the landfill.