Plastic recycling industry players have welcomed the decision of the government to introduce new conditions in the application of approved permits (APs) for plastic waste from Oct 23, says Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin.

She said the government had stopped giving out plastic waste APs for the three months since July 23.

"The ministry had held discussions with plastic waste recycling industry players on introducing the new conditions.

"Plastic waste AP applicants will be required to fill forms and meet the new conditions. We will study before making a decision on whether to approve the applications or not,” she told reporters in Putrajaya today.

Before this, she attended the conferring of Honourary Deputy Fire and Rescue Commissioner on Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad Baharuddin Shah today. Also present was Fire and Rescue Department director-general, Mohammad Hamdan Wahid.

Yesterday, Zuraida said importers of plastic waste would have to pay a levy of RM15 per tonne of goods apart from submitting information on the source of the plastic waste.

Apart from that, she said companies applying for APs should also obtain approval from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida), as well as from the Environment Department.

The Housing and Local Government Ministry had revoked the plastic waste import licence of 114 companies and factories nationwide for three months from July 23.

The measures were taken following local reports on serious pollution in Kuala Langat, Selangor said to be from illegal factories processing imported plastic waste.

On Monday, Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr A Xavier Jayakumar ordered a crackdown on all unlicensed plastic waste recycling factories in the district.

- Bernama