Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – The Malaysian Government will ban import of all non-recyclable solid waste, particularly plastic, said Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Yeo Bee Yin has said.

Speaking during the ministers’ question session at the House of Representatives on October 17, Yeo said plastic waste are varied, some can be recycled, but there is mixed plastic waste that cannot and is usually used by illegal factories.

The minister’s statement came after there were reports that Malaysia has become a dumping ground for plastic waste from other countries after China banned plastic imports, leading to a huge impact on the global recycling system.

Countries such as the United Kingdom have begun to look to other places to offload such waste.

Kuala Langat in Selangor state has emerged as a hotbed of plastic waste with about 40 unlicensed factories processing imported plastic.

Yeo said although the Malaysian Government could ban the import of plastic waste, it would not solve the issue as regional countries such as Thailand and Indonesia were still importing it.

According to the minister, the most effective way is for developed countries to stop exporting their non-recyclable plastic materials.

She affirmed that relevant ministries and agencies of Malaysia will do their best to ensure that Malaysia will not be a dumping ground of plastic waste for developed countries.-VNA