04-05-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Malaysia received over 2,800 tonnes of battery waste in 2023
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia received a total of 2,802.17 tonnes of battery waste containing cadmium, nickel, mercury or lithium in 2023, accounting for 0.05 per cent of total scheduled waste generated that year.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said based on battery waste statistics, the volume had increased significantly from 1,120.03 tonnes in 2013.
"The generation of scheduled waste under code SW 103 surged by 600.47 per cent in 2020 due to the mixing of SW 103 waste with chemical waste," he said.
Previously, the government had targeted 1.5 million electric vehicles (EVs) in the country by 2040, in line with the global transition of infrastructure from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to EVs.
This new target marks a significant increase from the one previously set by the Planning and Implementation Committee for Electricity Supply and Tariff (JPPPET), which aimed for 90,000 EVs by 2040.
Last year, the ministry acknowledged that efforts were underway to establish guidelines for the disposal of solar panels and EV batteries in Malaysia.
At the same time, Nik Nazmi said there are currently five licensed scheduled waste premises in the country authorised to receive SW 103 battery waste from EVs.
These include Sungeel Hi Tech Sdn Bhd in Port Klang, Selangor, and Hi Tech Full Recovery (M) Sdn Bhd in Padang Meha, Kedah.
The three other premises are TES AMM (M) Sdn Bhd in Pasir Gudang, Johor; MEP Enviro Technology Sdn Bhd and Econili Sdn Bhd in Perak.
Code SW103, which covers lithium and EV batteries, is classified as scheduled waste under the First Schedule of the Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005.
"These batteries contain cadmium and nickel, mercury or lithium. As such, EV batteries are not categorised as electronic waste (e-waste)," he said.
EV batteries refer to the power source of electric vehicles, and lithium-ion batteries are the most commonly used due to their energy efficiency, long charging cycles and high energy density.
Nik Nazmi added that Malaysia still has adequate capacity to manage EV battery waste using existing facilities.
To date, EV battery waste accounts for less than one per cent of the total scheduled waste generated annually in the country.
"This amount remains small, and current capacity is still sufficient to meet demand," he said.
