KUALA LUMPUR: The crackdown on illegal e-waste recycling operations must continue despite criticism directed at the Federal Government, say non-governmental organisations (NGO).
The Basel Action Network (BAN) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) in a joint statement on Friday (Feb 28) raised concerns about criticism that has been levelled against the Malaysian government over the crackdown of illegal e-waste recycling operations that have mushroomed across the country.
"These illegal operations are run by criminal syndicates looking to reap quick and maximum profits, extracting copper, gold and other valuable materials from the scrap, while avoiding any form of pollution control costs.
"They then illegally dump the toxic residual material at the lowest cost.
"China banned the import of electronic waste and plastic waste with their National Sword Policy in 2018 as their air, water and soil were rapidly getting contaminated, people were falling ill and agricultural land was getting destroyed.
"The economic damage from this environmental harm outweighed the economic returns.
"We have become the new destination for toxic, difficult-to-recycle waste from all over the world, which history has proven will bring more negative consequences than positive value.
"The Department of Environment, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, the Royal Malaysia Police, the Immigration Department and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deserve the highest accolades for their ongoing work in keeping the country safe from these waste crimes," it added.
The statement further said that these agencies are ensuring that Malaysia meets its international obligations and is implementing the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal.
"These rules are designed to protect our environment and Malaysia is providing the necessary enforcement.
"It forbids the most egregious forms of dumping by industrialised countries that prey on developing or emerging economies.
"The recent criticism by local players in various news outlets is calling for the Malaysian government to lift its ban on e-waste importation not realising that this would mean violating obligations under international law.
"The primary argument proffered is that there is plenty of illegal activity and perhaps the law is the problem and we should allow the e-waste to flow in but be strictly controlled.
"The writers opine that there is wealth and good that can come from recycling," it said.
The statement said that if the waste was valuable and the processing profitable, entrepreneurs with access to capital investment in the United States would build “green” facilities to extract the value.
"Why would they let this value go straight to South-East Asia, now that China no longer accepts the material?
"Most e-waste is of negative or marginal value.
"Only some portions of the material are economically viable to be recycled.
"Much of the e-waste smuggled to Malaysia include the plastic housing of the electronic equipment, which is low value and may contain toxic forever chemicals.
"The consequences are serious as pollution from mismanaged e-waste can cause cancer, affect brain development, disturb endocrine systems and cause birth defects.
"These effects are irreversible and will affect future generations," it said.
