Associations: Misleading picture of plastic scrap exports to Malaysia

 

The Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA) and Malaysian Plastics Recycling Association (MPRA) have shot back at a recent report about the country's recycling industry.

In a joint statement today, the associations said it is uncalled for and inaccurate for the report to liken Malaysia to a “dumping ground” when referring to legitimate imports which comply with regulations and laws.

According to them, the report also missed the bigger picture by zooming into just two years of trade data. This is because they said recent data showed the United Kingdom exported less plastic scrap to Malaysia in 2020 than in 2016.

They said the Malaysian authorities had tightened imports by introducing 18 new rules and regulations including inspection at Malaysian ports to identify illegal imports of plastic waste.

“The amendment to the Basel Convention has just come into effect in January 2021. This will further regulate the transboundary movement of scraps globally. Only clean, homogeneous, recyclable scraps can be imported in a controlled manner whilst non-homogenous scraps movement requires prior consent from the Department of Environment,” they added.

Malaysia, they said, will face rising demand for recycled plastic resin in the future as the country's own domestic retailers and brand owners in various sectors increase their efforts to shift to a circular economy.

"Malaysia’s recycling rate has also seen an uptrend, reaching 31 percent by the beginning of 2020. Plastics recycling could contribute RM15 billion to RM20 billion to Malaysia’s economy," they said.

The associations said they support the clamp-down on illegal plastic waste imports and illegal recycling operations. They also pledged to assist the government in efforts to crack down on unscrupulous and illegal operators.

- Bernama