SUNGAI PETANI: The Department of Environment (DoE) imposed an operations suspension order on two illegal recycling processing plants in Pinang Tunggal here today.
In an 11am raid, the DoE confiscated the facility's equipment, while foreign workers employed there were handed over to the Immigration Department for further investigation.
State DoE director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said the raid was prompted by numerous public complaints regarding the waste emissions from the recycling facilities.
She said that prior to the raid, the DoE attempted to conduct several routine checks, but the facility owners refused to cooperate.
"Further examination found suspected clinical waste materials such as Covid-19 test kits, syringes, and needles that were crushed and washed for recycling purposes.
"The wastewater from the plant was directed to retention ponds and released untreated into public drains, subsequently entering Sungai Muda, which serves as the domestic water source for Kedah and Pulau Pinang," she said in a statement today.
She said further investigations would be conducted to determine whether the waste materials originated locally or were brought in from overseas.
"The illegal processing of plastic and clinical waste is also believed to be run by Chinese nationals," she added.
She said the suspension orders were imposed under Section 38 of the Environmental Quality Act 1974.
"The activities were found to be carried out without approval under Section 34A of the Environmental Quality Act 1974. Penalties for this offence include a fine of RM500,000 and/or imprisonment for five years," she added.
She said that for offences related to processing scheduled clinical waste without Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval, the same penalty could be imposed under Section 34A of the same act.
Commenting further, she said a request for an enforcement order under Section 34AA, which entails a complete ban on the premises' operations has been submitted.
Meanwhile, Sharifah Zakiah said the DoE is ready to collaborate with the state government on any industrial whitening programmes to ensure that industries in the state operate sustainably and comply with legal requirements.
For the record, the Kedah state government had previously directed that all plastic recycling plants in Kedah can only operate in Bukit Selambau.