60 containers of plastic waste imported by 'traitors' to be sent back
Labelling those who smuggle in plastic waste "traitors," Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Minister Yeo Bee Yin today said that 60 containers of the unwanted materials would be sent back to their countries of origin.
Speaking after a joint enforcement operation conducted at Port Klang, Yeo said that this would total some 3,000 metric tonnes of contaminated plastic waste...
Labelling those who smuggle in plastic waste "traitors," Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Minister Yeo Bee Yin today said that 60 containers of the unwanted materials would be sent back to their countries of origin.
Speaking after a joint enforcement operation conducted at Port Klang, Yeo said that this would total some 3,000 metric tonnes of contaminated plastic waste.
During her visit to Westport, where nine containers of plastic waste were shown to reporters, Yeo said notices will be sent to the logistics companies for the consignees to return the waste to their points of origin within 14 days.
"We will use the Environmental Quality Act 1974 to make it mandatory for them to send back (to the countries of origin). Failing which, they will be brought to the court," she said.
Under the same act, those involved in bringing in the illegal plastic waste are liable to a maximum fine of RM100,000 or imprisonment of up to five years.
Yeo said her ministry is also mulling blacklisting consignees from importing goods via the ports, and compelling the original exporters to bear shipping costs if these consignees cannot be found.
"Only then will we use the Basel Convention, where the exporters would pay for it."
This refers to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, an international treaty aimed at reducing the movements of hazardous waste between nations, specifically to less developed countries.
10 operations
As of today, a total of 10 operations have been conducted at Port Klang with 123 containers checked for plastic waste, Yeo said, adding that joint operations will be expanded to other ports.
At a press conference held later, Yeo called on local players who helped smuggle plastic waste into Malaysia as "traitors" to the sustainable environment cause.
"We view the Malaysians who import this garbage as traitors to the country's sustainability, and therefore they should be stopped and brought to justice.
"There is a local importer here and there is an exporter there, that's why these things happen. That's why I say these people are traitors, I do not have other words to describe them."
When asked if the smuggling activities involved syndicates, Yeo said she could not tell without being shown evidence.
She did point out, however, that in one particular case, an exporter from the UK brought 50,000 metric tonnes in about 100 containers over the past two years by engaging a sole local importer.
According to Yeo, the smuggling of illegal plastic waste was done on the pretext of recycling waste and other false declarations.
"Malaysia will not be a dumping ground to the world. We will fight back even though we are a small country. We cannot be bullied by developed countries," she stressed.
Yeoh, however, declined to name the companies involved.
Dumping in Perak
On another development, Yeo said her ministry had investigated a BBC report on waste from the UK being dumped in Perak.
"What happened was that the waste came to a facility in Kuala Langat, which we had closed down.
"The waste needs to be disposed of. The landowners will have to pay for the disposal. They must be held responsible," she said.
"If plastic waste is found on your land, the state government can use the National Land Code to make you rectify the situation. You have to foot the bill, failing which the state government will confiscate the land.
"The waste belongs to the UK, but the Malaysian government needs to make sure it is disposed of. I have already been in touch with the British High Commission on how to move forward in terms of the cost, machinery, and capacity-building."
BBC claimed in its documentary that plastic waste up stacked up to 6m high, including trash from British supermarkets and local council recycling departments, were dumped in Perak.
