DoE shuts down illegal waste facility in Bukit Selambau
The enforcement action, carried out yesterday, targeted potential sources of pollution in the Kuala Muda district.
Kedah DoE director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said the factory was found to be conducting off-site recovery of scheduled waste without Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval or a licence from the department.
"The raid found around 100 metric tonnes of used lithium batteries, 317 metric tonnes of crushed used batteries classified as scheduled waste, and 20 metric tonnes of recovered metal powder stored on-site," she said in a statement today.
She said investigations are being conducted under several provisions of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, including for storing and conducting recovery activities involving scheduled waste without proper authorisation.
As part of the enforcement, a stop-work order was issued under Section 38(1)(a) of the Act, and machinery used in the facility's operations was seized. The factory was found to be operating without any pollution control measures.
"The DoE will continue to intensify monitoring and enforcement to curb illegal scheduled waste recovery activities that endanger the environment and public health," said Sharifah Zakiah.
She also urged the public to report any suspicious or polluting activities to the department.
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