Malaysia Pledges to Return Contaminated Plastic Scrap Containers

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Malaysia- the world’s major plastic importer has decided to return thousands of tons of contaminated plastic scrap to the countries of origin. Inspections had revealed that plastic scrap containers were found to contain huge quantities of contaminants including household waste and electronic scrap.

According to recent announcement by Yeo Bee Yin, Malaysia’s Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change, the country will return approximately 3,300 tons of contaminated trash to where it originally came from. The source of such trash containers containing unwanted materials commingled with plastic scrap includes countries such as the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Japan, China and Canada.

Earlier in April this year, the country had launched a joint task force to crack down on the growing problem of illegal plastic waste imports into the country. Nearly ten operations have been carried out since then. Around 60 containers containing plastic and trash have been identified. Out of this, 10 containers will be returned immediately. The remaining 50 will be shipped back upon completion of inspection procedures.

Yin urged developed countries to review their waste management policies and stop shipping garbage to developing countries. She added that the Ministry will continue its fight against dumping so as to save the country from becoming a dumping ground to the world.

Incidentally, Greenpeace report suggests that plastic waste imports to Malaysia have almost tripled since China’s imposition of plastics ban.