Seized e-waste to be auctioned - DOE

Discarded electronic appliances or e-waste seized during “Op Hazard” last Feb 15 will be auctioned to companies with valid licences under the Environment Department (DOE).

DOE director-general Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar said 15,764.90 tonnes of e-waste valued at RM55 million were seized during the operation.

“Samples of the confiscated materials will be taken as evidence in court before they are auctioned to a company that has a valid license with the DOE,” he said during a joint press conference with Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department director Azmi Abu Kassim in Kuala Lumpur today.

According to Wan Latiff, there are a total of 156 e-waste recovery facilities that are licensed under Section 18 of the Environmental Quality Act 1974.

He said 111 of them are partial e-waste recovery facilities.

During the operation conducted nationwide last Feb 15, the DOE inspected 47 premises, with six of them having valid licences from the department.

“All the premises are investigated for possibly flouting licensing regulations,” he said, adding that many of the premises that operate illegally do not have a proper smoke funnel filtering system.

According to him, e-waste that goes through an uncontrolled process can cause various health risks including cancer to individuals who live near the processing plant involved.

“Electrical and electronic equipment that has expired can no longer be used and must be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner at facilities licensed by the DOE,” he said.

- Bernama

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