Latest news with #MeenakshiR
France 24
07-07-2025
- Business
- France 24
NGOs laud tougher Malaysia plastic trash import laws
An amended law went into force in the Southeast Asian nation last week, effectively banning imports of plastic waste unless approval is given by the country's standards watchdog. One key change is that approval will only be given for waste imported from countries that have ratified the Basel Convention, set up in 1989 to reduce the cross-border movement of hazardous waste, particularly between developed and non-developed nations. That effectively bars imports from the United States, the fifth biggest supplier of plastic waste to Malaysia. Malaysia is one of the world's biggest importers of plastic waste, accounting for over 433,000 metric tonnes worth $167 million in 2024, the Department of Statistics Malaysia said -- enough to fill around 173 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The plastic is recycled into pellets which are then exported -- mainly to China -- for use in production of various items including carpets. Southeast Asia has been flooded with plastic waste from more developed economies such as the United States and Britain since 2018, especially since China -- which previously boasted a massive recycling industry -- ordered a halt to most imports. Many Chinese recycling businesses moved to Malaysia after the ban took effect, leading to huge quantities of plastic being shipped in without permits. "We welcome the stricter control... (but) we are concerned as there are some key enforcement gaps that have to be addressed," Friends of the Earth Malaysia president Meenakshi Raman told AFP Monday. Gaps included illegal imports, with smugglers concealing consignments to bypass regulations Meenakshi said, exacerbated by "bribery and collusion among enforcement officers" allowing illicit shipments to slip through customs. No US plastic The tightened law effectively bans the United States from any further shipments as Washington has not ratified the UN treaty. The US accounted for over 35,000 tonnes of plastic waste to Malaysia last year, according to data from the Basel Action Network, behind signatories Japan, Spain, Germany and Britain. Environmental watchdogs said Malaysian plastic recyclers preferred overseas imports because domestic waste did not meet demand. "Plastic recyclers also mention that domestic waste is 'dirtier', hence they source imported plastic waste that is cleaner," Meenakshi said. Both Friends of the Earth's Meenakshi and Greenpeace Malaysia Zero Waste Campaigner Weng Dun Xin called on the US and other developed nations to stop using poorer nations to dump their trash. "Recycling alone cannot fix our global plastic pollution problem fast enough," said Weng. "Developed countries should stop putting their responsibility onto other countries for their own plastics problem." After passing the law, Malaysian authorities said they would "not hesitate to act firmly against any individual or company that attempts to circumvent waste import controls or engage in illicit waste import activities".
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Bengaluru property owners urge BBMP to extend 5% tax rebate
BENGALURU : Many property owners across Bengaluru are urging the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike ( BBMP ) to extend the 5% rebate on property tax payments by at least another month, beyond the current April 30 deadline. As per BBMP's current rules, the rebate is applicable only to those who clear their tax dues within the first month of the financial year April. Residents argue that the BBMP property tax portal was inactive until April 5 due to technical glitches, leaving taxpayers with less time to make their payments. This, combined with confusion over the newly introduced Solid Waste Management (SWM) user fee, has created widespread frustration among citizens. 'Why should we lose out on the rebate when the BBMP itself wasn't ready? We lost valuable days because the portal wasn't functioning,' said Rajesh K, a property owner from JP Nagar. Adding to the grievances, property owners have strongly objected to the SWM user fee structure. Many apartment residents report being charged individual SWM fees despite their communities managing waste independently through composting or authorized private vendors. Although exemptions have been promised to bulk waste generators, these are subject to physical inspections by BBMP officials at a later date, a process residents fear could lead to harassment and corruption. 'Today, they are charging us twice individually and at the community level. Tomorrow, they might impose penalties after inspections. There's complete uncertainty,' said Meenakshi R, a resident of Whitefield. Citizen groups are demanding that BBMP scrap the new SWM fee structure for this financial year and revert to the earlier system of a flat cess of `360 per property. They argue that the sudden changes, poor communication, and lack of clarity have unfairly burdened honest taxpayers. Why should citizens lose out on the rebate when the BBMP itself wasn't ready? — Rajesh K, resident of JP Nagar. 'In the middle of all this confusion, it is only fair that BBMP extends the rebate deadline by another month. Many of us are willing to pay promptly, but the process itself has become a hurdle,' said Sanjay P, a resident of Malleswaram. Activists believe extending the deadline would help ease taxpayer grievances and restore some goodwill towards BBMP. With the end of April fast approaching, property owners are hoping for a quick and favourable response.
