Raids Lead to Shut Down of 139 Illegal Plastic Recycling Facilities in Malaysia

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Malaysian authorities have closed down as many as 139 illegally operating plastic recycling facilities in the country from January till date. Earlier, the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change had set the target to close 100 illegal facilities during the first quarter of 2019.

According to Minister Yeo Bee Yin, it has fined four factories and is in the process of issuing fines to another 44 companies. The cumulative fine to be collected from these factories is estimated at around RM 3.5 million. In addition, the Ministry has also opened 48 investigation papers. All the above actions follow the integrated inspection operations carried out at 239 plastic recycling facilities across the country.

Out of 139 shut down facilities, Selangor accounted for the maximum number with 78, followed by Perak and Kedah with 16 and 15 respectively. 12 facilities were shut down in Negri Sembilan, whereas Penang accounted for 10. The inspection found that there were no illegal plastics recycling facilities in Malacca, Perlis, Kuala Lumpur, Pahang, Terengganu, Sarawak and Labuan.

Ever since the country imposed ban on imports of plastic waste into the country in July last year, it has seized 750,000 tonnes of plastic waste. These will be fully disposed of by mid-2019, said Ministry officials. The cited facilities will have to bear the disposal costs of sized plastic waste, it added. Further, the authorities have decided to step up raids in order punish illegally operating premises.