Latest news with #DepartmentofEnvironment
The Star
4 minutes ago
- General
- The Star
Over half a million tonnes of e-waste processed since 2021, DOE wants tougher control
PUTRAJAYA: The Department of Environment (DOE) recorded 536,709.04 tonnes of electrical and electronic waste or e-waste processed by licensed premises from January 2021 to June 2025. Environment director-general Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaafar said e-waste is increasing in line with the widespread use of digital devices. "If e-waste is not managed properly and disposed of carelessly, it can have major implications for human health and the environment. In this regard, DOE has implemented various initiatives to improve e-waste management, including expanding licensed e-waste recovery facilities and there are 128 recovery facilities nationwide to date," he said in a statement here on Thursday (July 31). He said other initiatives included strengthening public awareness campaigns to promote the safe disposal of used electrical equipment and increasing enforcement against unlicensed e-waste management through two special operations, namely Ops Hazard, which were carried out with 351 legal actions taken under the Environmental Quality Act (EQA) 1974. "DOE calls on the community and industry to be responsible in managing e-waste in an environmentally friendly manner by channeling them to legal recovery facilities," he said. In addition, Wan Abdul Latiff said the haze issue was also a major focus because it also had a serious health impact on the community. According to him, the DOE constantly monitors the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings through 68 air quality monitoring stations nationwide every hour over 24 hours through the Environmental Quality Data Centre (EDC) in Putrajaya. "At the international level, Malaysia continues to work with neighbouring countries through the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution to coordinate prevention and mitigation actions for land and forest fires in the region. "Through this platform, Malaysia has also voiced various proposals and initiatives to neighbouring countries to combat the issue of open fires that can cause transboundary haze," he said. At the domestic level, Wan Abdul Latiff said various actions were also implemented immediately including law enforcement and patrols in hotspots, extinguishing open fires with related agencies as well as the delegation of power to 13 other agencies which was gazetted on July 7 and came into effect on July 8 to strengthen the whole of government approach. "This step is a strategic initiative to strengthen the implementation of enforcement actions on the ground, especially in addressing the issue of open burning that contributes to the haze situation. This delegation of power allows for immediate, integrated and more comprehensive action to be implemented quickly by relevant agencies," he said. He said as a more comprehensive preparedness and coordination measure, the National Open Burning Action Plan and the National Haze Action Plan have also been activated since Feb 26 to coordinate the actions of government agencies in addressing the issue of open burning and facing the national haze situation. In addition, he said patrol and monitoring cooperation was also carried out with strategic partner agencies such as the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) and other enforcement agencies at the state and district levels. "As of July 30, 2025, the DOE has carried out 4,247 land patrols, 859 drone flights to monitor open burning activities and 58 Notices of Instruction, 27 court actions and 59 compounds were imposed on parties who committed offences related to open burning," he said. - Bernama
Barnama
21 minutes ago
- Business
- Barnama
Over Half A Million Tonnes Of E-waste Processed As At June 2025, DOE Wants Tougher Control
PUTRAJAYA, July 31 (Bernama) -- The Department of Environment (DOE) recorded 536,709.04 tonnes of electrical and electronic waste or e-waste processed by licensed premises from January 2021 to June 2025. Environment director-general Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar said e-waste is increasing in line with the widespread use of digital devices. "If e-waste is not managed properly and disposed of carelessly, it can have major implications for human health and the environment. In this regard, DOE has implemented various initiatives to improve e-waste management, including expanding licensed e-waste recovery facilities and there are 128 recovery facilities nationwide to date," he said in a statement here today. He said other initiatives included strengthening public awareness campaigns to promote the safe disposal of used electrical equipment and increasing enforcement against unlicensed e-waste management through two special operations, namely Ops Hazard, which were carried out with 351 legal actions taken under the Environmental Quality Act (EQA) 1974. "DOE calls on the community and industry to be responsible in managing e-wastes in an environmentally friendly manner by channeling them to legal recovery facilities," he said. In addition, Wan Abdul Latiff said the haze issue was also a major focus because it also had a serious health impact on the community. According to him, the DOE constantly monitors the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings through 68 air quality monitoring stations nationwide every hour over 24 hours through the Environmental Quality Data Centre (EDC) in Putrajaya. "At the international level, Malaysia continues to work with neighbouring countries through the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution to coordinate prevention and mitigation actions for land and forest fires in the region.
New Straits Times
34 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
RM66.6mil worth of e-waste seized in DOE's Op Hazard raids nationwide
KUALA LUMPUR: Authorities have seized a total of 11,606.09 metric tonnes of electronic waste (e-waste), worth RM66.6 million, during the Department of Environment's (DOE) nationwide operations under Op Hazard 1.0 and 2.0. DOE's principal assistant director of the Hazardous Materials Division, Thahirah Kamarulzaman, said the seizures were the result of joint enforcement raids on 42 illegal e-waste premises, out of 122 inspected across the country.
New Straits Times
34 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
[UPDATED] RM66.6mil worth of e-waste seized in DOE's Op Hazard raids nationwide
KUALA LUMPUR: Authorities have seized a total of 11,606.09 metric tonnes of electronic waste (e-waste), worth RM66.6 million, during the Department of Environment's (DOE) nationwide operations under Op Hazard 1.0 and 2.0. DOE's principal assistant director of the Hazardous Materials Division, Thahirah Kamarulzaman, said the seizures were the result of joint enforcement raids on 42 illegal e-waste premises, out of 122 inspected across the country. She said Op Hazard 1.0 was carried out from Feb 14 to 16, while Op Hazard 2.0 took place on June 16 and 17. "Relevant legislation regarding e-waste includes Section 18 and Section 34B of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, the Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 1989, and the Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005. "For import activities, it is governed by the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023, and for export under the Customs (Prohibition of Exports) Order 2023," she explained during a presentation on e-waste issues on Thursday. Meanwhile, DOE director-general Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar warned that improper management and indiscriminate disposal of e-waste could have severe implications for both human health and the environment. He said the DOE has introduced various initiatives to improve e-waste management, including the expansion of licensed e-waste recovery facilities. "To date, 128 licensed recovery facilities are operating nationwide," he noted. In addition, the department is also enhancing public awareness campaigns to encourage the safe disposal of used electrical and electronic appliances. He urged the public and industry players to take responsibility by channelling e-waste to licensed recovery facilities in an environmentally friendly manner. Op Hazard was conducted in collaboration with multiple agencies, including the police, Immigration Department, Energy Commission, Health Ministry, Inland Revenue Board and Companies Commission of Malaysia.
Borneo Post
7 hours ago
- Climate
- Borneo Post
Air quality in Mukah deteriorates further, records Malaysia's only unhealthy API reading of 160 as of 8am
Haze situation in Mukah yesterday afternoon. – The Borneo Post Team KUCHING (July 31): Air quality in Mukah has continued to deteriorate with an unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 160 as of 8am today. According to the Department of Environment's (DoE) Air Pollutant Index Management System (Apims) data, Mukah has recorded an API of 160 since 3am. At 12 noon yesterday, the API reading in Mukah was moderate at 98. Since then, the API for the area has moved steadily upward. All other areas under DOE's Apims in Sarawak maintained a moderate air quality level. The Borneo Post reported yesterday that Mukah was the only district in Malaysia to record an unhealthy air quality of 107 as of 6pm. Sibu recorded the second highest API in Sarawak at 90, followed by Miri and Kapit at 73, and Kuching at 71. Other stations in the state reported readings ranging from 58 to 69. An API reading between 101 and 200 is categorised as unhealthy and may pose health risks to sensitive groups, including children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory conditions. API readings of 51 to 100 show moderate air quality. The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a warning of thunderstorms, heavy rain, and strong winds for Kuching; Samarahan; Betong; Sarikei; Kanowit and Selangau in Sibu; Tanjung Manis and Daro in Mukah; Song, Kapit, and Bukit Mabong; as well as Tatau, Bintulu until noon today. The department said in a Facebook post that a warning is issued when there are indications of a thunderstorm with a rainfall intensity exceeding 20 mm/hour that is imminent or expected to occur for more than one hour. A thunderstorm warning is a short-term warning valid for a period not exceeding six hours for a single issue. Yesterday, the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) in a 5.22pm update reported scattered clusters of hotspots in western Kalimantan, along with a few to isolated hotspots in Sarawak, Peninsular Malaysia, and Sumatra. Related story: Mukah records Malaysia's only unhealthy API reading of 107 as of 6pm
