Continuing a series of reports on Teluk Gong in Klang, we look at how residents are grappling with mounting waste, believed to be from nearby factories.

The rubbish washed up against the dock is as unsightly as it is a health hazard.

Residents in Glenmarie Cove, an area with 420 landed residential homes, are concerned with the plastic waste, believed to have drifted from factories in Kampung Teluk Gong, piling up in the waterway near their homes.

The riverside residence is just 500m from the village-cum-industrial area and shares the same main road that leads to Klang.

Head of Glenamarie Cove Residents and Owners Association Roy Lee said that the piles of rubbish wash ashore at high tide and were caught against the dock when the water subsided.

“Over time, the ground at the dock developed steep slopes and the rubbish gets stuck under it. We realise over time that the slopes are getting bigger and bigger,” he said.

“What is worrying is that the garbage is mostly non-biodegradable items such as plastic bottles and Styrofoam food packaging.

“There are also a lot of glass bottles and clothing that I believe pose risks to residents who actually use the dock on day-to-day basis,” he said.

The small dock joins an elevated path residents use every day for cycling, running, dog walking and so on.

Lee added that there were times when unusual items such as the rubber moulds for making footwear washed up.

The industrial area that residents think may be polluting their estate. The area’s close proximity to the factories has also created more unease, according to Lee, because the residents have been complaining of a foul smell every day from 7pm to 8pm.

“The odour is quite sharp and makes everyone quite restless because we are not sure where it comes from,” he said.

Residents also complain about trailers and lorries causing traffic jams on the main during peak hours.

“Living so close to the industrial area makes us wonder whether it was properly planned like other industrial hubs, such as Pandamaran or Westport.

“Potholes appear in the road and at junctions every so often. We cringe when we see motorbikes with riders not wearing helmets sliding their way between the vehicles every day,” he said.

Lee said that the situation in the estate was made worse with the ambiguous status of its maintenance services because they were handed over to Klang Municipal Council by the developer.

He said that, even though the rubbish was usually picked up on time, there was no proper maintenance on drains and yards. Fallen leaves at the side of the road posed an imminent health risk when combined with the wet weather.

“Our backyard is simply becoming a breeding ground for Aedes mosquitoes,” he said.