How to get free DBKL garbage collection for your KL condo*
Many high rise buildings in KL pay RM1000 per month or more for private contractors to remove garbage. But do you know DBKL's contractor Flora Alarm provides FREE garbage collection for condominiums that meet certain criteria? Only residential buildings are eligible - so commercial buildings (serviced apartments, SOHO etc) do not qualify. Here's how I saved RM10,000 per annum for a KLCC condominium (Menara Avenue) in 2012.
I first heard about this free DBKL garbage disposal service from a smart MC chairman of Villa Puteri, a resort style condominium near PWTC. When he and his committee took over from the developer, they discovered for more than 10 years the garbage disposal contract had been given to a private company. By applying for free DBKL garbage disposal, considerable cost savings of more than RM12000 per year were realised.
But things were not so straight forward at Menara Avenue. An earlier attempt by the property management team appointed by the developer had been rejected. See below. DBKL identified various short comings in the basement depot where the hoppers (large plastic garbage containers with hooks) were stored. A second attempt was made by a new building manager appointed by the new Menara Avenue MC.
This time around, the MC relied on the building manager's recommendation to construct a new rubbish depot on the ground floor, accessible from the main road, Jalan Tun Razak. New garbage hoppers were ordered to meet DBKL's specifications. And an inspection had to be specially arranged to demonstrate a standard 3 tonne garbage truck used by Alam Flora had no problems pulling into the spot where the new depot was constructed. To cut a long story short, MAMC was successful in getting the free DBKL garbage disposal service, saving RM10,000 per year.
I also suggested the same at Kirana Residence. But although Kirana is a residential building, it shares a single master title with the Ascott serviced apartments and office podium. And the single master title was zoned commercial. The Ascott side proved accommodating. When DBKL pointed out Ascott was not eligible, a new space at the basement was quickly identified for the construction of a separate depot housing only hoppers belonging to Kirana MC. But despite the best efforts of the then Kirana building manager to convince DBKL, the bid was ultimately unsuccessful.
Serviced residences on a master title zoned commercial might want to consider buying a garbage compactor if there is sufficient space available. The compactor saves money by reducing the frequency of garbage pickups. See picture below of a garbage compactor at a Penang serviced residence.
*Notes & disclaimer :
1. The free service described above was available about 10 years ago. I think any new MC or JMB committees taking over the reins from their developers recently should ask if the free DBKL garbage collection service is still available for new KL condominiums zoned as residential.
2. RC is a former member of the KMC and MAMC committees.
Garbage compactor
Source: Author’s collection, taken at Straits Residences, Tanjung Tokong, Penang
Letter enquiring about free DBKL Garbage Collection service in 2010. Ultimately, Kirana MC was not successful in its bid
Source Emailed draft to RC
Drawings made by Ascott’s Facilities Manager for a proposed garbage depot for Kirana Residence, circa 2010
Source: Email to Author, circal 2010
