An illegally operating electronic waste (e-waste) factory in Parit, Perak, was raided last month by the Perak Department of Environment (DOE) but the owner has yet to be found.
The factory, occupying an area measuring about 1.2ha, was located on Dec 17, 2022, in the middle of an oil palm plantation near Sungai Perah, Parit.
A DOE representative told Malaysiakini that the owner could not be contacted, causing the environmental authority to further its investigation on the matter.
“We began our investigation on Dec 17 but until this day, we are unable to find the owner,” said the DOE officer who declined to be identified as he is not authorised to speak to the media.
He said that DOE received the report from the police in the middle of last December and promptly initiated a crackdown.
“We were given a report from the district police about the factory’s operation.
“We were told that the Orang Asli community nearby were the ones who sent in the complaint so we initiated the investigation immediately,” said the representative.
In the report, it was stated that the factory was recycling e-waste and the Orang Asli villagers had complained about piles of the recycled material being found outside of the factory.
The DOE believes that the factory owner does not hold a permit to recycle e-waste within the vicinity as they have no record of the establishment’s existence.
They have also seized and sealed all items within the area including materials, machinery and vehicles.
However, the environmental authority could not provide further information on its progress to locate the owner as it is still in the middle of investigations.
E-waste comprises pieces from computers and cellphones, as well as other electronic gadgets. Usually, they are refurbished or recycled for their materials.
Decommissioned e-waste is processed to recover precious metals like gold and copper.
Oftentimes, e-waste is melted which could impact the surrounding environment and the health of nearby residents as the fumes are toxic from burning metal and plastic or chemicals such as lead and flame retardants.
Last December, Malaysiakini reported on a similar concern that plagued the locals of Kuala Langat, where nearby factories were illegally recycling e-waste and dumping the waste near residential areas.
A representative of the Kuala Langat community said numerous complaints have been made to the Selangor DOE over the matter but only the Kuala Langat Municipal Council has responded. - Mkini
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