19 containers of e-waste found at ports sent back to origin this year

Malaysia has sent back 19 containers containing smuggled e-waste from overseas to the origin countries this year.

The containers were sent back to the United States, Spain, Australia, Belgium and Japan - Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said.

He said from January to November, a total of 59 containers were detained at ports, of which 31 were found to contain scheduled waste including e-waste.

He said this following a spot check by the ministry at West Port in Klang, where three containers from the United States and Spain were found to contain e-waste like computer hardware and wires.

Nik Nazmi, who was also accompanied by deputy minister Huang Tiong Sii, said the ministry is committed to ensuring Malaysia is not used as a transit point or disposal site for e-waste from developed countries.

“The Department of Environment will continue to strengthen monitoring and enforcement for the importation of e-waste used by the recycling industry.

"Strict action will be taken against any importer who fails to comply with the laws that have been set, including sending back the imported e-waste container to the country of origin in accordance with Article 9, Basel Convention,” he said.

He added Malaysia has a close relationship with the members of the Basel Convention in combating the illegal importation of scheduled waste across borders.

In October, Malaysiakini reported more than 1,000 containers with tonnes of e-waste were illegally imported monthly, leaving the country with a vast amount of pollution in its land, air and water.

Industry players say there are at least 200 plants, large and small, that are recycling e-waste illegally in the country, right under the noses of the authorities.

Sources say the waste is smuggled in simply by fraudulently declaring the contents because not every container is inspected.

Last week, Penang DOE found a container declared to contain aluminium alloy but it was, in fact, filled with e-waste. It was returned to the US.

Malaysiakini also reported that Kuala Langat has become a dumping ground for refuse from processed e-waste.

Mounds of melted plastic and wires were found on the roadsides and in the shrubs there, with locals saying they come from illegal e-waste processing factories.

E-waste is processed to extract precious metals, like gold and copper, from decommissioned electronic goods.

Malaysia started to become the destination for illegally smuggled e-waste after China closed its doors in 2018, following damage to the environment and health of the local population. - Mkini