Chong says her nursery uses compost made from dried leaves to encourage robust root development of plants. -- KK SHAM/The Star

Klang Royal City Council (MBDK) is strictly enforcing its no burn policy at all 16 plant nurseries within its purview.

Klang mayor Datuk Abd Hamid Hussain said the businesses had been instructed to compost dried leaves, twigs and branches instead of burning them.

Greater enforcement, he said, was needed due to concerns over air pollution and health issues, as open burning "releases harmful gases, contributing to air pollution".

He added that composting offered a sustainable alternative where the end product could be sold, also reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills.

Abd Hamid said the directive aligned with broader environmental efforts to encourage sustainable practices within the gardening and nursery industry.

"Composting contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 12 supporting waste reduction and the circular economy.

"It also mitigates climate change by reducing landfill methane emissions," he said.

Abd Hamid said nurseries which had already been composting their waste, instead of burning, had reaped its benefits.

Several Klang nursery owners and workers who spoke to StarMetro said they used composting to nurture their plants.

Nora Mat Senan, 40, a supervisor at a nursery in Teluk Pulai, said the compost made there enriched plants and acted as a soil conditioner.

Another nursery supervisor, Tiffany Chong, 37, said the business supported MBDK's ruling as composting helped ensure cleaner air.

"We use the compost made from dried leaves in our nursery to encourage robust root development for plants," she said.

Nursery owner Jerry Ng, 30, said composting helped manage plant waste.

"Compost used for saplings help the soil hold water, making it more resistant to drying out.

"Our nursery composts all plant waste as we use it to grow our saplings.

"We also sell them to customers to enhance soil structure in their potted plants," he said.