KUALA LUMPUR: Hasty calls by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for a blanket ban on so-called “plastics waste” are unnecessary and ill-considered, and can harm law-abiding manufacturers and businesses.
The Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA) and the Malaysia Plastic Recyclers Association (MPRA) said such a move would hurt the reputation of legitimate Malaysian businesses, instead of addressing the issue of plastic smuggling.
The two associations were referring to remarks made by NGOs lumping permitted imports with smuggled “sampah plastik”.
“We are concerned that law-abiding businesses are being accused of breaking the law, and that inaccurate statements could destroy the livelihoods of law-abiding Malaysians and the families and loved ones that they support,” said MPMA and MPRA in a joint statement, here, today
“Blanket bans do not and cannot address the issue of smuggling and do hurt legitimate businesses,” they said.
The two associations are worried that there could be a repeat of a suspected arson attack in Kedah that recently destroyed a licensed and legal factory, and put the lives of workers, local residents, and firemen at risk.
“Recycling done by legal operators are supporting both local and foreign brands in sectors such as electrical and electronics, automotive and other manufacturing sectors as well as in the construction industry.
“A total ban would bring Malaysia’s participation in the global circular economy to a halt,” the joint statement said.
The two associations said recycling plays a vital role in protecting the environment and properly managing and disposing of waste.
As an economic activity, they said, recycling was in fact crucial to creating new value that benefitted society and contributed to sustainability,
“We fully support the government’s efforts to escalate its enforcement actions against smugglers, who make false declarations to Customs in order to illegally import sampah plastik.
“We also support the clamp-down on illegal recycling operations, with about 150 of these shut down by the government to date.
“We reiterate our stand that Malaysia has no place for other countries’ rubbish, and that we should not become the developed world’s dumping ground.” MPMA and MPRA said they would continue to support and were ready to assist the government in efforts to crack down on unscrupulous and illegal operators, and to protect the environment.
They also called for a forum to be set up to discuss a robust, effective regulatory framework for the industry and Malaysia’s role in the circular economy where the redeployment and reuse of resources was a key organising principle.