The Malaysian Insight

SINCE China’s ban on imported plastic waste at the end of last year, Pulau Indah in Klang, Selangor, has become one of the region’s largest dumping grounds.

Klang environmentalist Chiam Yan Tuan alleges that in the Sg Chandong industrial area alone, there are about 30 to 40 illegal waste-processing factories, surrounding the West Port, Telok Gong and Pandamaran industrial area.

“Most of the factories started operating six months to a year ago. Despite the authorities taking action and shutting them down, the factories have resumed their illegal businesses,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Malaysia has become one of the top importers of UK scrap plastic after China banned imports of most recyclable waste on December 31, 2017.

Putrajaya recently banned 114 companies from importing waste and shut down dozens of illegal factories in Selangor, after complaints of environmental pollution.

The Malaysian Insight recently checked the Sg Chandong area, 9km from the bustling West Port, and found that the one of the factories which was shut down earlier was operating as usual.

Mountains of plastic waste were piled up in the area, while the putrid smell of burning materials choked the air. There were also large containers of waste material strewn across the area.

Large rubbish bags bearing the names of foreign electronics and industrial manufacturers were stacked alongside the waste.

At the industrial area, there were also dozens of industrial shop lots filled to the brim with solid wastes, while the backlanes were also completely blocked by rubbish and waste.

At one of the factories in Sg Chadong, the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) has stuck a notice for the company to shut down its operations, said Chiam, but the factory was operating as usual.

“MPK issued a notice of suspension of business to the unlicensed waste-disposal plant on August 6 but the operators were brave enough to tear up the notice and continue to operate,” he said.

Workers at the site refused to answer any question on where the waste was coming from and to where the non-recyclable goods were heading.

Chiam said these illegal factories posed a big problem for Klang folk, adding that he has made several complaints to MPK.

“The authorities have shut down a few factories at Blackwater in Parkland but there are others that are operating in several more areas.

“I’m planning to make a complaint again to MPK. This is affecting Klang folk and it’s bad for the environment.

“Also, there is open burning in Sg Jantung in the night. In Teluk Gong, we can also get a strong chemical smell coming from the factories there.

“It’s not good because a school, SJK (C) Lee Min is located in front of the factory.”

China was once the largest importer of recyclable waste but since the ban took effect on January 1, up to 700 tonnes of solid waste and more than 1,700 treatment plants in China have relocated overseas.

According to data from the UK Tax and Customs Administration, the volume of “foreign waste” shipped from the UK to Malaysia tripled in one year.

The import volume in the first four months of this year equalled the whole of last year. – November 14, 2018.