Raids Expose Illegal Importers and Plastic Recyclers

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The surprise visit yesterday by Malaysia’s Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin exposed handful of illegal importers and plastic recycling factories in Kuala Langat district in the Malaysian state of Selangor.

The visit followed the Minister’s meeting with various agencies, after residents raised concerns over the health hazards caused by illegal import and disposal of plastic waste. The Minister was accompanied by officers from the District Council, the Department of Environment, and NGO Persatuan Tindakan Alam Sekitar Kuala Langat.

The facilities were cited for illegally importing waste without proper licenses and dumping of plastic waste in open places, causing threat to humans and nature.

The Minister announced that the cited factories and sites will be granted reasonable time to dispose of the waste at designated locations. The sites need to be cleared within the stipulated time, failing to do so will result in strict actions including blacklisting of concerned factory owner or the landowner. The Kuala Langat District Council has already been asked to file a police report with detailed information about such illegal sites.

Earlier in July this year, the Malaysian authorities had revoked the approved permit for importation of plastic waste for a period of three months, which impacted nearly 114 companies and factories nationwide. All the factories were ordered to re-apply for permits, in accordance with new set of criteria and procedures.

The country has been a dumping ground for plastic waste from New Zealand, Australia and Britain after recent ban on imports by China.