SHAH ALAM: Selangor has formed a special task force to ensure the complete closure of 104 illegal plastic recycling factories and prevent their proliferation.
This came following reports that the operators could move their activities out of Kuala Langat and Klang following joint operations against them last year.
State Local Government, Public Transportation and New Village Development Committee chairman Ng Sze Han said the special task force was formed during the state’s Economic Action Council meeting chaired by Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari.
“The special task force is chaired by Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Hee Loy Sian and co-chaired by me.
“It comprises representatives from local councils, the Department of Environment (DoE), land office, police and the Immigration Department.
“The special task force will meet monthly to discuss the latest reports from agencies. This is to ensure that illegal plastic recycling factories do not exist in Selangor.
“This is necessary as after the illegal factories are shut down, the operators may shift elsewhere. We learnt that three to four of them may be relocating to other districts in Selangor.
“They may do it in the form of new companies.
“We need to protect the other areas in Selangor from being affected,” said Ng, who is Kinrara assemblyman.
He said the setting up of the special task force would solidify efforts to clamp down on the illegal factories.
“We appeal to the public, residents, local councillors, assemblymen as well as non-governmental organisations to be our eyes and ears, and report the existence of illegal factories.
“I will make sure that action is taken.
“At the same time, we are monitoring legal factories to ensure that they comply with regulations.”
Ng said Selangor meant business as within six months, it had shut down 104 illegal plastic recycling factories.
Thirty-three illegal factories operating in Kuala Langat were between July and December last year.
In Kuala Langat, electricity and water supply to all the factories were disconnected. In Klang, the electricity and water supply was in the process of being disconnected.
After receiving complaints, the authorities conducted 30 joint operations, as well as smaller raids, on the illegal factories.
Ng said landowners of 20 illegal factories in Kuala Langat had cleared the plastic waste from their premises, while the remaining 13 had been given until the middle of this year to do so.
The landowners, he added, would have to contact the National Solid Waste Department for a list of companies qualified to dispose of the materials.
Ng said the state government could act under the National Land Code for wrongful use of land, which, in this case, involved agricultural plots.
The federal government’s role, he said, was to ensure the termination of electricity and water supply to the factories, which would bring the illegal operations to a halt.
The DoE, he said, could seize the factories’ machines and prosecute offenders under its act, which carries a higher penalty compared with the Local Government Act.
Ng said there were several stages involved before the authorities could confiscate a plot of land.
“Notice 7A of the National Land Code had been served to the landowners at the end of
last year, instructing them to dispose of the plastic waste and revert their plots to the original status.
“We gave them ample time of between three and six months to do this, and the duration depends on the respective cases.
“If they fail to act, a reminder will be served under Notice 7B. If it is still not cleared, we will issue Notice 8A, which enables us to seize the land.
“This entire process, from the issuance of Notice 7A to 8A, will take between six to 12 months. We will not extend the grace period to clear the plastic waste,” said Ng.