13-5-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) Environmental activists in Malaysia are sounding the alarm over the nefarious tactics employed by importers of illegal waste materials, which they claim make tracing and locating these culprits an arduous task for authorities.
According to Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) senior research officer Mageswari Sangaralingam, the smuggling of garbage into the country often involves a web of deceit, including fake recipient addresses, false documentation, and other deceptive manoeuvres aimed at hoodwinking customs officials.
“In many instances, the importers resort to false declaration of the consignment, mislabelling, and even concealing the illicit cargo within legitimate shipments,” Mageswari elaborated.
The environmental advocate highlighted that such clandestine activities pose significant risks to the local ecosystem, particularly when non-recyclable waste, known as residual waste, ends up being indiscriminately dumped or burnt in open areas.
“During our field investigations, we’ve encountered alarming instances of shredded plastics, wires, and electronic waste residues being disposed of in agricultural and remote regions,” she lamented.
Mageswari stressed the urgency for robust measures to hold accountable all parties involved in the illicit trade of waste materials. “From importers and exporters to freight forwarders, each entity complicit in this criminal activity must face legal consequences,” she asserted.
The issue recently came to the fore when the Selangor Environment Department (DOE) intercepted 29 containers laden with electronic waste, plastic scraps, and assorted refuse at Westport.
Nor Aziah Jaafar, the director of Selangor DOE, revealed that despite stringent inspections, illicit waste shipments continue to breach the country’s borders. She cited the prevalence of fake recipient addresses on the containers as a major obstacle in identifying and prosecuting the offenders.
Echoing similar concerns, Dr Mohd Yusoff Ishak from Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Faculty of Forestry and Environment underscored the grave environmental hazards posed by the unregulated dumping of waste, particularly electronic waste.
“The influx of hazardous materials not only jeopardizes the health and safety of workers but also contaminates the air, soil, and water, posing long-term risks to public health,” Dr Mohd Yusoff warned.
In light of these challenges, stakeholders are calling for stringent enforcement measures to ensure the integrity of waste shipments entering Malaysian ports.
Heng Kiah Chun, a regional campaign strategist at Greenpeace South-East Asia, urged the Malaysian government to take decisive action in line with international commitments such as the Basel Ban Amendment.
“The upcoming Global Plastic Treaty negotiation presents a crucial opportunity for Malaysia to advocate for stronger policies against waste trafficking,” Heng emphasised.
The proliferation of illegal waste imports in Malaysia underscores the broader global issue of waste mismanagement, exacerbated by China’s 2018 ban on waste imports.
