PORT KLANG: The smuggling of contaminated plastic waste into the country is still ongoing, even though the government has banned the import of such materials last year.
The smuggling activities were unearthed following the discovery of 24 cargo containers at West Port, containing contaminated plastic waste which could no longer be recycled.
Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin said the discovery has exposed elements of abuse of power among certain quarters within the nation’s ports.
“All the 24 containers were declared as having ‘clean’ waste. However, further checks showed that they contained prohibited material. We also received reports of containers bearing contaminated plastic waste in North Port as well as in Penang.
“This month, the authorities will conduct operations at all ports nationwide. We are serious in our aim to tackle this issue. We have already identified the import company.
“We are also concerned as to how these containers could make its way so easily into our ports. If there is foul play involved, we will take action against all those involved,” she told reporters after conducting checks at West Port here on Tuesday.
Yeo said preliminary checks showed that all the contaminated plastic waste would be sent to illegal recycling plants throughout the country.
“This is dirty, low-quality plastic. This is the type of plastic which cannot be disposed off so easily. If burnt, it emits black smoke.”
Asked if the government would be asking the urging the countries of origin to take back the plastic waste seized in Malaysian ports, Yeo said the government will rely on the Basel Convention.
“Malaysia was a signatory of the Basel Convention, touching on cross-border control of the disposal of toxic and dangerous material. So, we can compel the countries of origin to take back the waste and also bear all the cost.
“For example, the container detected today came from Spain. Countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States and Germany also send their waste to Malaysia,” she said.
Yeo added that 148 illegal plastic recycling plants nationwide, including those which failed to comply with the Environmental Quality Act 1974, were shut down from January to date.
Last October, the government ended the issuance of import licences for plastic waste.