KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has come up with an innovation that could help to reduce waste in the river.
UMS Innovation and Commercialisation Management Centre director Dr Jidon Janaun said the river cleaning machine took about two years to be completed.
"It was developed during the Movement Control Order which saw numerous logistic restrictions.
"UMS has commercialised this innovation via Intellectual Property Licensing to a local company," he told the New Straits Times, adding that the prototype costs the university RM100,000.
Jidon said that for now, the university is still in communication with the local authority in Sabah on the installation of the River Cleaning Machine.
Although no final decision has been made yet, several locations have been identified namely Likas river, Inanam river, Petagas river, and Putatan river near here.
The machine, he said, could pick up trash continuously as the revolution of the collector wheel is driven by the water current and also by a motor as a backup force.
"Its revolving collector basket spins continuously and picks up floating trash that will fall into a chute as the collector wheel spins.
"The trash then glides into a large collecting bin outside the machine.
"As for a setting in an actual river, the machine is put on a stationary pontoon by the river bank," he said, adding the pontoon is to hold the machine so that the level of the machine collector basket is always inside the water at the desired depth regardless of the water level.
The scientist said the collecting bin will be placed on the land so that the garbage truck can access the trash.
In the case of flooding, logs drifting to the collection point may hit and damage the machine.
Hence, Jidon said a diverting barrier in front of the machine needs to be installed for the machine's protection.
As for the cost of installation at the actual river, Jidon said it may vary depending on the river bank condition.
"The cost may double up to RM200,000.00 including the construction of the pontoon.
"The maintenance cost is expected at 10 per cent of the installation cost per annum."