CRACKDOWN
ON ILLEGAL PLASTIC RECYCLERS
ATOTAL of 44 operators of illegal plastic recycling premises are expected to be charged in court soon, which will involve fines totalling RM3 million for various offences under the Environmental Quality Act 1974.
This follows a massive coordinated enforcement operation conducted by the Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Ministry with local authorities to combat illegal plastic waste in the country.
Its minister, Yeo Bee Yin, said four cases had been brought to court with a total of RM389,000 fines imposed and one found guilty was sentenced to a day’s jail.
“We will make them pay. If they want to make money, they will have to comply with the law.
“Some quarters feel that a day’s imprisonment is too light, but we will make sure that all laws and clauses will be brought in to make sure that offenders will not be let off the hook easily.”
She said up to this month, 140 premises had been shut down, exceeding the target set by the ministry to close down 100 illegal factories by the first quarter of the year.
“The operation started since July last year. From 274 premises inspected, 109 were illegal factories while the remaining numbers didn’t comply with environmental regulations.
“Although we have met the target, we will not stop. Enforcement operations will be intensified,” she said.
“We have more than 400 licensed factories. But having a valid licence doesn’t mean that they comply with the law.
“We will make sure that this operation will be conducted at least twice a year.”
She said the ministry would not compromise with any plastic waste offences to protect the environment.
“We hope we can clear the rubbish by the third quarter of the year. We will either use the National Land Code to make it mandatory for landowners to dispose plastic waste from their properties lawfully or we will confiscate their land.
“The waste can be given to a licensed landfill operator or cement plant for disposal, or we will clean it but impose a charge on the offenders.
“If they fail to pay, they will be dragged to court,” she said after conducting the state special integrated task force operation here yesterday.
Three factories were raided in the operation, which was joined by 90 officials from 13 agencies in the state.
They included the state Department of Environment, National Solid Waste Management Department, Seremban Municipal Council, Nilai Municipal Council, Solid Waste Corporation Management, Customs Department and the police.
Of the three factories, two were operating illegally, while one had been found to have violated the law.
From August last year, 33 plastic recycling premises in the state had been inspected, 12 of which had been ordered to shut down, while nine were found to have been operating illegally.
A total of 22 written notices, three compounds and investigation papers, as well as 13 equipment Detention Orders and one Prohibition Order were issued.
Only two premises in the state have valid importation permit from the National Solid Waste Management Department.
Yeo said the ministry would extend the operation at seaports to curb the influx of plastic waste into the country.
Eighty-two illegal immigrants were nabbed during the operation. Twenty-nine of them were Bangladesh nationals, 18 from India and 35 from China.
They were detained under Sections 6(1)(c) and 15(1)(c), and Rule 39(b) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.