Uncovered: Largest shipment of toxic waste illegally transiting through country

ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Environment and Water Ministry uncovered the biggest shipment of toxic waste transiting through Malaysia when it found 110 containers filled with electric arc furnace (EAF) residue.

Its minister Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (pic) said that the 1,864 bags of EAF originated from Romania and was on its way to Indonesia, which imported the toxic items.

“The containers arrived at Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) for trans-shipment early last month before the Department of Environment (DoE) was notified.

“Investigations showed that the declaration for the containers to be false with the authorities not being notified it was EAF, ” he said in a press conference held at PTP here on Sunday (July 19).

He added that EAF dust waste was classified as toxic and dangerous under the 1993 Basel Convention.

He said EAF contained dangerous chemical substances such as zinc, ferum, chromium, cadmium and lead, which, if it was not handled properly, could be hazardous to the environment and health.

“As the DoE is the Basel Convention Authority here, we never gave any approval or received any notifications for the item to transit through this country.

“The DoE has also informed their Romanian counterparts on June 15 to handle the return of these 110 containers to their country, ” he said.