Hidir Reduan Abdul Rashid New Straits Time 1 Nov 18;
KUALA LUMPUR: The Housing and Local Government Ministry is proposing that Approved Permits (AP) for import of plastic waste for recycling be resumed by limiting it to companies that fulfil certain AP conditions.
Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said this was necessary as plastic waste was a valuable commodity that could help domestic recycling factories generate revenue for the country via proper separation of plastic waste from other waste and processing.
“The ministry proposes that import licence (AP) only be resumed and limited to qualified companies that fulfil AP terms set by the ministry, as well as fixing a ratio for plastic waste importing companies by making it mandatory for usage of 30 per cent local plastic waste.
“This proposal indirectly will decrease imports of plastic waste to 30 per cent and thus boost local plastic waste recycling activities,” she said.
She said this in a written reply to Lim Lip Eng (PH-DAP-Kepong) who wanted to know the rationale behind maintaining 114 AP import permits for plastic waste in, light of developed countries like China having banned plastic waste imports, and how much plastic waste had been imported via the 114 AP.
On Oct 26, Zuraida reportedly said that her ministry had permanently stopped the issuance of Approved Permits (AP) for plastic waste effective on that date.
She said the decision was made following a meeting between her ministry and the Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Ministry; Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry ; and International Trade and Industry Ministry on the same date (Oct 26).
In the written reply made available today, she said that the ministry was of the view that an immediate ban would jeopardise the plastic processing industry as plastic products made in Malaysia were exported overseas to be used as resource for other materials.
“To control plastic waste entry into Malaysia, the government is also planning for the setting up of a national quota to ensure Malaysia does not receive too much plastic waste if any country imposes restrictions on plastic waste imports,” she said.
Zuraida noted that 1.08 million tonnes of plastic waste was imported into Malaysia between 2015 and last year, with a significant increase seen between 2016 and last year.
She said the increase was due to tighter controls imposed by China on its domestic plastic waste recycling sector, which caused plastic waste exporters to shift from China to Malaysia.
“In this matter, the ministry is studying suitable options to control the import of plastic waste to ensure there is no increase in plastic waste into Malaysia occurs.”
