Do not turn Malaysia into a landfill, warns Noh
PUTRAJAYA: The government will immediately cancel the approved permits (AP) of companies which failed to comply with regulations on the importation of plastic wastes, said Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar.
He said the move was decided after the ministry found that several companies had violated the rules by bringing in solid wastes apart from those approved by the government.
He said as much as 400,000 tons of of plastic wastes were brought into Malaysia in a year, thus making the country a dumping ground for solid wastes.
“Recently, 40 containers were detained by the Royal Malaysian Customs Department for transporting prohibited solid wastes. Do not turn Malaysia into a landfill and do not manipulate the rules for quick profits. This act will not be forgiven,” he told reporters after launching the National Recycling Day here yesterday.
Noh said the National Solid Waste Management Department had been instructed to review on the issuance of approved permits to 149 companies which were allowed to import plastic wastes from foreign countries including China, Hong Kong and Singapore.
He said the department was also reinforcing and updating on the Plastic Waste Import Regulations to ensure that the rules were effective in controlling entry of prohibited wastes.
“With this new ruling we may check on the source of the plastic wastes and revoke the licenses if the permit holders are caught cheating,” he said.
Earlier, Noh in his speech said the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) would extend its recycling campaign nationwide by displaying advertisements in lifts at the people’s housing projects (PPR) and low cost houses.
“The government will adopt the approach taken by developed countries like Sweden and Japan in encouraging the public to generate income from recycled goods,” he said, adding steps to inculcate the recycling habit among Malaysians should be a continuous effort. — Bernama
Recently, 40 containers were detained by the Royal Malaysian Customs Department for transporting prohibited solid wastes. Do not turn Malaysia into a landfill and do not manipulate the rules for quick profits. This act will not be forgiven. — Tan Sri Noh Omar, Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister