SHAH ALAM, Aug 1 — The efforts and stern action taken by the Selangor government has finally freed the state of illegal plastic recycling factories after the administration stopped accepting licence applications in the sector.
Ng Sze Han, who is caretaker Local Government, Public Transport and New Village Development Committee chairman, said the state government passed new guidelines last year halting the acceptance of new licence applications.
“Plastic waste imports were banned since March last year and only existing operators can renew their licence according to the set conditions,” he said, adding that joint enforcement action by the federal and state governments from 2018 to 2020 helped local authorities take stern action and stop illegal operators.
Ng said over 200 factories were issued with stop-work orders, owners were fined and their properties were seized.
“Illegal factories no longer exist… but licensed operators remain and are under control and monitored by the state government.
“When they are licensed, authorities are not so concerned as they need to comply with tight conditions and rules all agencies are subject to, especially additional conditions from the state government requiring them to be reviewed by the Environment Department (DOE) before their business licence is issued,” Ng said during an exclusive interview with Bernama recently.
He said the DOE review is a special control measure by the Selangor government. Ng said the move has successfully curbed illegal factories.
Joint enforcement action, especially in cutting water and power to illegal premises, also contributed to the success in eradicating these operations, he said.
The Selangor state government had set five policies relating to plastic waste recycling in the state to prevent pollution, which was passed on May 11, 2022.
Caretaker Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Orang Asli Affairs Committee chairman Hee Loy Sian said the new policies ban the import of plastic waste.
He said existing plastic waste recycling factories are subject to a five-year review to renew their licences.
— Bernama
