The River Fencing Project

The River Fencing Project at the Kayu Ara River was initiated as a pilot project in 2022 to create a replicable system throughout the Klang River Basin. This initiative was funded by WWF in collaboration with Local Agenda (LA) 21, SWCorp, Alam Flora, Greensteps, and the local communities of Kampung Sungai Penchala (KSP). 

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The Kayu Ara River, located in both Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, is a tributary river that runs into the Damansara River. This area has been a source of flooding concerns over the last decade, as well as a source of consistent solid waste.

In December 2021, flooding occurred along the Kayu Ara River and although this was due to a range of systemic issues, local community members reported that the flooding was primarily due to an overflow of solid waste. 

Through surveys, KSP was found to be a major source of this trash, and as a result, the project implemented 1.5 km of fencing along the river in this area. The fencing was applied against railings along roadsides to prevent trash from falling through the large grills and into the river. The materials for fencing are more cost effective than other current solutions and are easily attainable, making it feasible for communities to replicate and prevent any lingering trash in their areas from falling into the river. It has therefore been recommended that the fencing be expanded.

One of the key features that has encouraged effective change has been our collaboration with sponsors. This collaboration has led to a change in waste system management in KSP. Most notably, the replacement of large open bins to smaller roller bins with proper lids, has also helped to prevent waste from cluttering along the streets and inevitably falling into the river. However, due to illegal dumping and an overflow of waste, these bins have not been enough to accommodate the population and other methods are necessary. 

The project's collaboration with LA21 also led to the decision to buy back plastics from unofficial street collectors rather than waste removal contractors. By doing this, the project provides income to these individuals, and a total of 3,617kg of plastic has been diverted from landfills. Furthermore, a successful recycling collection system was implemented at PPR Lembah Subang 1, a system that is currently serving 30 families and two restaurants.

The project's original surveying also found that other pollutants such as  fats, oils, and grease (FOGs) were being discharged from unmaintained grease traps from restaurants in KSP and Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI). A survey conducted across 50 restaurants showed that only six percent understood regulations around FOGs and their importance. Many did not realise they were breaking the law and how FOGs would impact the environment around them. It is evident that further education around these topics is needed, but it has also been suggested that a wetland be designed to absorb pollutants while being sensitive to issues of flooding and causing bottlenecks. 

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