KUALA LANGAT: The worries of local residents are far from over despite massive operations by the authorities against illegal plastic recycling in Selangor.
Landowners who allowed the illegal plastic recycling operators to operate on their premises have been told to clear the plastic waste, and the authorities are waiting to see if they will adhere to the instructions.
“Some have began clearing it while others have not. A landowner said she had to fork out some RM2 million to clear a huge pile. So, that will take time,” said Kuala Langat Environmental Action Association chairman Tan Ching Hin.
“There are those who have not done anything and I am afraid they will resume operating in secret.”
He said there had been frequent cases of open burning and the suspicion fell on landowners, who might be burning their plastic waste in small piles to slowly dispose of it.
“One factory caught fire during Chinese New Year and we suspect it was the doing of the landowner.
“The state government can issue the directive for landowners to remove the plastic waste.
“But there is a need to do an inventory of how these landowners are disposing of their waste, how is it being handled, and who is receiving it.”
Tan said plastic waste was being dumped and burnt around Jenjarom, including on Malay reserve land, by the roadside and in oil palm plantations. The Selangor government, he added, must act swiftly to stop this.
Tan also questioned the issuance of new licences by the Kuala Langat District Council and the Department of Environment to plastic waste operators in light industrial areas.
“I am unhappy as these small factories are operating near residential areas.”
Tan said the authorities must review the issuance of new licences and the best solution was to end their renewals next year.
The 14 committee members of the association had tipped off the authorities on illegal plastic recycling factories last year, and that paid off when 33 of them were shut down.
The illegal operators had also frequently carried out open burning to dispose of the waste.
The association discovered that local landowners had rented out their plots to the illegal operators, who are believed to be from China, raking in between RM6,000 and RM60,000 monthly, depending on the size of the property.
The plastic waste, which originates overseas, cost RM3,000 for half a tonne and is resold at RM6,000 after processing.
The landowners are more than happy to rent out their plots.
The illegal operators did not care about the conditions of the factories as long as the compound could fit huge bags of unsorted dirty plastic.
They also found that the illegal operators had allegedly used the licences of local operators to import waste and export it after processing it.
Most of the landowners did not care about the activities of the illegal operators until the authorities caught up with them.
And, there is a hefty price to pay for their nonchalant attitude.
Last month, state Local Government, Public Transportation and New Village Development Committee chairman Ng Sze Han warned landowners to clear the plastic waste left behind by illegal operators within two to three months of receiving orders by the authorities.
Failure to do so will result in the forfeiture of their land.