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IMPORTATION OF PLASTIC WASTE TO

MALAYSIA

Asian Network Workshop for Prevention of Illegal Transboundary

Movement of Hazardous Wastes

12-14 November 2019

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Department of Environment

Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment & Climate Change (MESTECC)

MALAYSIA

CONTENT

•Country’s Policy on Plastic Waste

•Approved Permit for Importation of Plastic Waste

•Current Situation

• Illegal Shipment of Plastic Waste

1) The construction of recycling plant (solid waste) is subjected to the Environmental Quality(Prescribed Activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 2015, under Activity14(b)(ii): Any person who intends to carry out the activity is required to submit a report onthe EIA to the DG of Environment for consideration, as mentioned under Section 34A of theEnvironmental Quality Act, 1974.

2) Department of Environment (DOE) only allows premises that fully comply withEnvironmental Quality Act (EQA) 1974 to import plastic waste to be recycled at theirpremises.

3) Plastic waste is a controlled item under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing ManagementAct 2007 [Act 672] by the Department of National Solid Waste Management (DNSWM).The importation of plastic waste under the HS Code 3915 is controlled under the Custom(Prohibition of Import) Order 2017 which the import manner required an approved permit(AP) from the DNSWM.

4) DOE as the Focal Point to the Basel Convention has transmitted information to theSecretariat of the Basel Convention on the controlling of plastic waste that required specialconsideration (i.e. approved permit requirement) when subjected to transboundarymovement.

COUNTRY’S POLICY ON PLASTIC WASTE

APPROVED PERMIT (AP)

• The importation of plastic waste under the HS Code 3915 is controlled under the Custom (Prohibition of Import) Order 2017 which requires an Approved Permit (AP)

• AP is issued by Department of National Solid Waste Management, Malaysia

• AP is given per shipment

• Shipment should be completed within validated period of AP

Validated period

Consignee(AP Holder)

Description of goods

HS Code

Weight

Permit No.

CURRENT SITUATION

249949287689

549786

872531

143127

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Imported Plastic Waste in Malaysia (tonnes)

Updated: June 2019

ILLEGAL SHIPMENT OF PLASTIC WASTE

• China’s ban on plastic waste import Southeast Asian countries

• Plastic imports to Malaysia have tripled since 2016, to 870,000 tonnes last year

• Illegal shipments of plastic waste to Malaysia with no AP

• Unclaimed containers containing plastic waste at Malaysian ports

• 22nd August 2019, DOE taken over 79 cases of illegal shipments involving 198 containers from 14 consignees and 12 countries.

• Illegal premises had been shut down and Malaysia is committed to sent back all containers of plastic waste not complying to domestic legal requirements as well as Basel Convention

• Communication with all related CA of the Origin Country are still on going

H S C O D E3 9 1 5

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H S C O D E3 9 1 5

1) Consignees (facility) were not an Approved Permit holder under theDepartment of National Solid Waste Management, Malaysia.

2) The receiving facility do not comply to requirements of EQA 1974, and DOEhas a reason to believe that this plastic scrap will not be managed in anenvironmentally sound manner and against the EQA 1974.

3) DOE as the focal point to the Basel Convention will ensure only premises whichfully complied to the provision under the EQA 1974 will be allowed to importclean plastics for recycling.

4) As a Party to the Basel Convention, Malaysia will impose strict requirements inline with the Article 4(11) of the Convention for all importation of mixed plasticwaste to ensure that any transboundary movements are conducted in a mannerwhich will protect human health and the environment.

JUSTIFICATION OF ILLEGAL SHIPMENT OF CONTROLLED PLASTIC WASTE

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTMinistry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment & Climate

Change (MESTECC)Aras 1-4, Podium 2 & 3

Wisma Sumber AsliNo. 25, Persiaran Perdana, Precinct 4

62574 Putrajaya, Malaysia

www.doe.gov.my

TERIMA KASIH / THANK YOU