The Malaysian government is looking to introduce a centralized plastic recycling hub to better monitor and manage the industry. According to the Housing and Local Government Minister, Zuraida Kamaruddin, all plastic waste recycling factories outside the park will be considered illegal once it is constructed.
Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin informed that her ministry is working with the Customs Department to inspect each container entering the country to ensure that only clean plastic is brought in. The Housing and Local Government will issue the approved permit license for the import of plastic waste, and before issuing it, they will inspect the site as well. However, approval for factory sites is under the purview of the local councils and local authorities.
In February 2019, the Malaysian Department of Environment (DoE), under the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC), set a target to close down 100 illegal plastic recycling factories by end of March 2019. When China banned plastic waste imports in 2018, the volume of plastic waste moving to Malaysia exploded, before a temporary restriction imposed in July 2018. More than 450,000 tons of plastic scrap was imported into the country between January and July 2018, 40% higher than imports for the entire year of 2017 and many illegal recycling Plants sprung up around the country. In reaction to reports of pollution in Kuala Langat, Selangor , the government revoked approved permits (AP) to import used plastic.
(Source: Free Malaysia Today; Malay Mail)
