Environment and Water Minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man today stressed that Malaysia is not a dumping ground for plastic waste illegally shipped to Malaysia.
He said from September 2019 to June 2022, some 286 containers of smuggled plastic waste have been returned to their origin countries.
They were exported to Malaysia from the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Canada and Hong Kong.
The containers were intercepted at Port Klang, the Penang Port and the Senari Port in Kuching, Tuan Ibrahim said in a Facebook post today.
The caretaker minister said the smugglers try to evade detection by making false declarations of the contents of the containers and by not following regulations set by local governments.
Some of the containers seized were imported by those who do not hold an import licence for such waste.
"The Environment and Water Ministry has never sat quietly as illegal plastic waste enters our ports.
"In fact, the Environment Department has consistently conducted enforcement operations and sent back the containers with illegal plastic waste to the origin countries.
"I stress that Malaysia is not a dumping ground for illegal plastic waste from abroad. There is no compromise," Tuan Ibrahim added.
Imports tripled from 2016 to 2018
Plastic waste can only be imported to Malaysia by those holding approved permits.
Malaysia's plastic waste imports tripled from 2016 to 2018, after China closed its doors to the world's refuse.
Under the Environment Quality Act, the import of clean plastics for recycling is permitted, while the import of mixed plastic waste is heavily regulated.
Earlier, Malaysiakini reported an estimated 1,000 containers of e-waste are imported illegally into Malaysia every month.
Unlike plastic waste, Malaysia's laws do not allow any import of e-waste.
In response, the ministry said it will crack down on illegal e-waste recycling plants which process the imported e-waste, as reported by Malaysiakini. - Mkini
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