KUALA LUMPUR: The Covid-19 pandemic has seen a rise in illegal dumping involving clinical waste (CW) material such as personal protective equipment (PPE) and syringes.
Kuala Lumpur Department of Environment (DOE) deputy director Datuk Dr Mohammad Ezanni Mat Salleh said tip-offs from the public had led to discovery of illegal toxic or scheduled waste dumping.
"Apart from healthcare facilities, other main contributors to scheduled wastes are vehicle workshops and hotels.
"The public can alert us on illegal dumping activities by calling our 24-hour hotline at 1-800-88-2727," he said in a press conference after attending the Environmental Quality Act (EQA) 1974 compliance seminar 'Jom Ambil Tahu & Patuh 2022'.
A 27 per cent increase CW was reported in Malaysia since the pandemic, with other items including face masks and gloves.
Clinical waste treatment methods adopted in Malaysia are incineration and landfilling.
Overall, Ezanni said Malaysia produced over 7.5 million metric tonnes of scheduled waste last year, a 4.45 per cent increase compared with 2020.
"Hence, serial scheduled waste producers have the responsibility of ensuring that they were collected and disposed of at designated premises, and DOE utilises tracking system called Electronic Schedule Waste System or ESWIS to ensure compliance."
He said the amendments of the EQA would help curb pollution by proposing stiffer penalties of up to RM10 million fine and five years' jail.
"The bill was tabled for first reading in Dewan Rakyat recently and we hope that the amended penalties would be approved and we will carry out enforcement based on it."
He said six cases of illegal dumping were reported nationwide between Jan 1 and July 30 this year.