BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Department of Environment (DoE) has issued an Equipment Operation Detention (EOD) order to a factory for illegally recycling used cadmium and lithium batteries in Ara Kuda, here, yesterday.
DoE director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said following tip-offs from the public and intelligence gathering, a team raided the former plastic manufacturing factory under the Environmental Quality Act 1974.
"Checks found that the premises was used to process and acquire used cadmium and lithium batteries without a licence.
"The EOD was issued immediately to stop the air pollution caused by heating and waste incineration," she said today.
Sharifah said the team seized 250 containers containing cadmium and lithium waste.
She said initial investigations found that waste material was brought in via air cargo to avoid strict inspections if sea routes were used.
She said further checks revealed that the factory might be owned by a Chinese national.
"We are identifying the individual for further investigation into the case."
She said 93 compound notices totalling RM186,000 were issued to the factory during the raid.
She said the case was being probed under Section 18 (1) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 for operating without a licence and Section 34A(A) for recycling scheduled waste material without an environmental impact assessment report and approval.
"We will not hesitate to take stern action against irresponsible parties who commit environmental crimes."