SHAH ALAM (Bernama) – The Selangor government does not intend to completely stop the import of plastic wastes to be recycled and that only clean and quality wastes are permitted for the processing of the industry involved in the state.
Hee Loy Sian, Chairman of the Environment, Green Technology, Science, Technology, Innovation and Consumer Affairs Committee, said it was unfair to licensed recycling factory operators if the imports were completely stopped as they had invested millions of Ringgit to ensure that the environment was preserved.
“Even though we have thought of banning all these recycling plants, however, these licensed plant operators have invested huge money to provide sophisticated machines, air filter systems and sophisticated water treatment systems. They are entitled to supply (imported plastic waste) to be processed.
“These plastic wastes are of some quality, some are of no quality. In the future, we will be sure to import only quality and clean wastes for recycling (by licensed factories), “he said at the Selangor state assembly sitting here today.
He said this in reply to an additional question from Dr Idris Ahmad (PKR-Ijok) on the problem of plastic waste in Selangor and the move to cancel import permits to counter the issue of illegal recycling plants.
Commenting on the plastic waste import permit, Hee said it had been misused by certain quarters previously causing illegal factories in the state but the state government with the Federal Government took a serious approach to addressing the issue.
On Nov 5 last year, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) did not intend to change the National Solid Waste Management Policy but would increase and tighten the requirement for plastic waste import permit (AP).
Its minister, Zuraida Kamaruddin said the KPKT would also increase enforcement and provide close monitoring of factories operating throughout the country.
– BERNAMA
