Latest news with #BaselConventionontheControlofTransboundaryMovementsofHazardousWastesandTheirDisposal
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
779 e-waste containers seized since 2023
A total of 779 containers containing electronic waste (e-waste) were seized up to May this year since 2023, with 583 of them inspected by the Department of Environment (DoE). Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, who has taken over the responsibilities of the natural resources and environmental sustainability minister, said 119 notices had been issued to importing companies to return the containers, in line with the Environmental Quality Act 1974. This, he said, led to 294 containers being sent back to their countries of origin. "This is in line with the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, which requires prior written consent from the DoE for all cross-border movements of scheduled waste, whether for import, export, transit or transshipment." Johari said in a written parliamentary reply. "Integrated operations of this nature will continue to be carried out to curb offences involving the illegal processing of imported e-waste." He was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Sh Mohmed Puzi Sh Ali (BN-Pekan) on measures to curb the illegal disposal of e-waste by unlicensed premises. Johari (BN-Titiwangsa) said the ministry remained committed to tackling crimes involving the illegal processing of smuggled e-waste. "The government is also stepping up efforts to combat illegal e-waste processing plants through integrated operations, such as Op Hazard 1.0 and 2.0, conducted nationwide in February and June this year." A total of 122 premises had been raided under the two operations. Op Hazard 1.0 targeted 53 premises and seized 9,356 tonnes of e-waste, while Op Hazard 2.0 targeted 69 premises, with 2,069 tonnes of e-waste seized. Johari said control mechanisms at border entry points were being strengthened, with enforcement enhanced in collaboration with agencies including the Customs Department, the DoE and port authorities. "This includes closer cooperation with international organisations such as the Basel Convention Secretariat, the Asian Network and Interpol to share information on ships suspected of carrying e-waste bound for Malaysian ports."
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Malaysia seizes 779 containers of illegal e-waste since 2023
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 779 containers containing electronic waste (e-waste) were seized between 2023 and May this year, with 583 of them inspected by the Department of Environment (DoE). Acting Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, who has taken over the responsibilities of the natural resources and environmental sustainability minister, said 119 notices had been issued to importing companies to return the containers, in line with the Environmental Quality Act 1974. This, he said, led to 294 containers being sent back to their countries of origin. "This is in line with the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, which requires prior written consent from the DoE for all cross-border movements of scheduled waste, whether for import, export, transit or transhipment. "Integrated operations of this nature will continue to be carried out to curb offences involving the illegal processing of imported e-waste," he said in a parliamentary written reply. He was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Sh Mohmed Puzi Sh Ali (BN–Pekan) on measures to curb the illegal disposal of e-waste by unlicensed premises. Johari (BN–Titiwangsa) said the ministry remained committed to tackling crimes involving the illegal processing of smuggled e-waste. "The government is also stepping up efforts to combat illegal e-waste processing plants through integrated operations such as Ops Hazard 1.0 and 2.0, conducted nationwide in February and June this year," he said. A total of 122 premises were raided – Ops Hazard 1.0 targeted 53 premises and seized 9,356 tonnes of e-waste, while Ops Hazard 2.0 targeted 69 premises, with 2,069 tonnes seized. Johari said control mechanisms at border entry points were being strengthened, with enforcement enhanced in collaboration with agencies including the Customs Department, the DoE and port authorities. "This includes closer cooperation with international organisations such as the Basel Convention Secretariat, the Asian Network and Interpol to share information on ships suspected of carrying e-waste bound for Malaysian ports," he said.
CBS News
14-05-2025
- CBS News
Over 200 tons of illegally imported electronic waste from U.S. found in Thailand, officials say
Thai officials on Wednesday said they seized 238 tons of illegally imported electronic waste from the United States at the port of Bangkok, one of the biggest lots they've found this year. The waste, which came in 10 large containers, was declared as mixed metal scrap containing aluminium, copper and iron, but turned out to be circuit boards mixed in a huge pile of metal scrap, said Theeraj Athanavanich, director-general of the Customs Department. The electronic waste — which is classified as hazardous waste under the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal — was found on Tuesday after the 40-foot containers became the subject of a routine random inspection, officials said. The Basel Convention is an international treaty signed in 1989 meant to deal with hazardous waste flowing into developing countries as costs for disposal grew along with the amount of waste. A U.N. report last year said electronic waste is piling up worldwide. Some 62 million tons of electronic waste was generated in 2022 and that figure is on track to reach 82 million tons by 2030, the report said. It said only 22% of the waste was properly collected and recycled in 2022 and that quantity is expected to fall to 20% by the end of the decade due to higher consumption, limited repair options, shorter product life cycles, and inadequate management infrastructure. Thai officials show samples of illegally imported electronic waste from the United States which they said they seized at Bangkok Port during a press conference in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. Sakchai Lalit / AP Theeraj said Thai authorities are looking to press charges including falsely declaring imported goods, illegally importing electronic waste and planning to re-export the waste back to its country of origin. "It's important that we take action on this kind of goods," he said. "There are environmental impacts that are dangerous to the people, especially communities around factories that might import these things for processing, then recycling." Electronic waste creates huge health hazards. Many components are laden with lead and mercury, cadmium and other toxins. Recyclers are after gold, silver, palladium and copper, mainly from printed circuit boards, but lax controls mean that facilities often burn plastics to release encased copper and use unsafe methods to extract precious metals. A Thai official shows samples of illegally imported electronic waste from the United States which they said they seized at Bangkok Port during a press conference in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. Sakchai Lalit / AP Thailand passed a ban on the import of a range of electronic waste products in 2020. The Cabinet in February approved an expanded list of the banned waste. Sunthron Kewsawang, deputy director-general of the Department of Industrial Works, said officials suspected at least two factories in Samut Sakhon province, which borders Bangkok, are involved in importing the waste. Last year, Thai officials found thousands of tons of smuggled cadmium waste at a factory in the province, Thai PBS reported. Residents near the area were later found to have usually high levels of the poisonous metal in their urine, according to the report. Exposure to cadmium can cause flu-like symptoms, including chills, fever and muscle pain, according to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Long-term exposure can lead to cancer, kidney, bone and lung disease. In January, the Customs Department said it seized 256 tons of illegally imported electronic waste from Japan and Hong Kong at a port in eastern Thailand. contributed to this report.
The Star
08-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Make it a habit to tackle e-waste
One for the album: Nik Nazmi (centre) with Etika Group of Companies chief executive officer Santharuban Thurai Sundaram and Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry deputy secretary-general (development) Datuk Nor Yahati Awang with the world's thinnest reverse vending machine with a compaction system. — Bernama PUTRAJAYA: Setting up household e-waste collection centres and dedicating one day per month for recycling electronics are among initiatives to reduce such waste nationwide, says Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister said there are 140 registered household e-waste collection centres and 161 licensed premises nationwide authorised to receive e-waste. This includes 45 full off-site recovery facilities that are capable of extracting valuable and precious metals from discarded electronic products, he told The Star. 'The government's household e-waste management mechanism provides a legal framework to reduce and recycle e-waste. 'The mechanism governs the lifecycle of six categories of household e-waste, from generation to final disposal, while operationalising the extended producer responsibility (EPR) principle. "This system places shared responsibility on importers, manufacturers, retailers, consumers, collectors and recyclers,' he said in response to questions about how the government plans to tackle Malaysia's mounting e-waste problem. The Environment Department estimates that the country will likely produce 24.5 million units of e-waste in 2025. This is an increase from 23.8 million in 2024 and 22.7 million in 2023, with the majority of waste being mobile phones followed by personal computers. In the last two decades, the country has produced 2.62 million tonnes of e-waste, which when piled up, is about 300m taller than Penang's Komtar building, which is 249m tall. As part of its efforts to address the issue, the ministry has declared the last Saturday of every month as the official national e-waste collection day, Nik Nazmi said. 'The ministry has launched nationwide awareness campaigns to encourage households to segregate e-waste and deliver it to registered collection centres or licensed recyclers capable of handling e-waste in an environmentally sound manner," he explained. He added that the government is also promoting the circular economy approach to e-waste management to reduce reliance on landfills and treat e-waste as a resource. 'Our goal is to reduce e-waste generation, enhance reuse and recycling, and increase raw material efficiency, contributing to the sustainable consumption of natural resources," he noted. Nik Nazmi added that the government is also committed to combating illegal global e-waste trafficking in line with its obligations under the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal. 'We are working with the Basel Action Network (BAN), as well as the police and Customs Department to strengthen border control and take swift action against illegal transboundary movements of e-waste. 'The collaborations have led to the successful interception and repatriation of illegal waste shipments, and underline our firm stance against environmental crimes," he said. Action against the illegal e-waste trade is taken under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and the Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005, which regulates the transportation and management of scheduled wastes, including e-waste, he added. 'In cases involving criminal syndicates or illicit financial flows, we also invoke the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 to investigate and prosecute offenders," Nik Nazmi said.
