Latest news with #BaselConvention
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Malaysia will stop accepting U.S. plastic waste, creating a dilemma for California
Malaysia will ban plastic waste imports from the U.S. starting Tuesday because of America's failure to abide by the Basel Convention treaty on international waste transfers, in a move that could have significant consequences for California. Malaysia emerged as a major destination for U.S. waste after China banned American waste imports in 2018. California shipped 864 shipping containers, or more than 10 million pounds of plastic waste, to Malaysia in 2024, according to the Basel Action Network, an advocacy group. That was second only to Georgia among U.S. states. Under Malaysian waste guidelines announced last month, the country will no longer accept plastic waste and hazardous waste from nations that didn't ratify the Basel Convention, the international treaty designed to reduce the international movement of hazardous and other waste. The U.S. is one of just a handful of countries, including Fiji and Haiti, that hasn't signed the pact. Malaysia will continue to accept plastic waste from Basel signatories. However, exports from those countries will be subject to pre-inspection at the nation of origin, according to the new guidelines Steve Wong, the chief executive of Fukutomi, a Hong Kong-based global plastic recycling company, suggests it is already having an effect on shipping ports. "With scrap inventories building up at ports and yards, and no clear guidance yet on the enforcement discretion or timeline of Malaysia's new system, the market for imported plastic waste has effectively frozen," he wrote in an email to people who follow recycling trends, which was shared with The Times. Much of California's plastic waste is sent overseas. A Los Angeles port spokesman said he was unaware of the impending ban. Long Beach port officials didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. An Oakland port spokesman said that facility "hasn't historically seen much volume in this commodity, so we don't anticipate any impact from this change." According to Wong's email, the coming ban has already disrupted trash export routes significantly, particularly for the plastics used in grocery bags, trash can liners and food wrap. "The scrap plastics market in Malaysia has come to a virtual standstill amid tightening import regulations and widespread uncertainty ahead of the new control regime taking effect on 1 July 2025," Wong wrote in the email. "Recyclers, traders, and suppliers are all reporting minimal or no movement of plastic waste." Jim Puckett of the Seattle-based Basel Action Network cheered Malaysia's decision. "The 'recycling' is doing more harm than good as only a fraction of the exports ever get recycled," said Puckett, the group's founder and chief of strategic direction. "The plastics that are not feasible to be recycled are often hazardous, or contain microplastics, which are commonly dumped, burned, or released into waterways. The export of plastic waste for recycling is a complete sham and it is a relief that the U.S. contribution to this plastic waste shell game is increasingly outlawed." According to California's waste agency, CalRecycle, the state exported 11.3 million tons of recyclable materials overseas to places such as Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico and Canada — in 2022. That number includes 100 million pounds of scrap plastic. Although the Basel Action Network's numbers indicate more than 10 million pounds went to Malaysia, CalRecycle's 2022 report didn't break down plastic exports to individual nations. A spokesperson for CalRecycle said that California "is working to reduce plastic pollution in our state and around the world" and that exports of scrap plastic have significantly declined over the last 10 years. Maria West, the agency's communications director, said that in 2018, California exported roughly 421,000 tons, or nearly 842 million pounds of plastic scrap to Malaysia. She said that number dropped 98% in 2024 to 8,000 tons, or about 16 million pounds. Several major waste companies in California, including Athens Services and Recology, didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. Critics of California's waste system say a 1989 state law that requires cities and jurisdictions to divert waste from landfills led to an increase in the export of waste overseas. Until 2018, China was the major importer of U.S. plastic waste. However, after China implemented it's National Sword policy — which banned the import of most plastic waste — nations began sending their waste elsewhere, often to less economically advantaged nations such as Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand. Although some of the plastic is recycled in these nations, much of it is incinerated or placed in landfills, where it chokes rivers and flows into the ocean. Waste advocates such as the Basel Action Network and participants in the Basel Convention are working to reduce the international movement of contaminated, nonrecyclable plastic from economically advantaged countries, such as the United States, to less advantaged nations. Jan Dell, the president of LastBeachCleanUp, a Laguna Beach-based anti-plastic waste organization, praised the Malaysian decision. "We're calling on cities, waste companies, brokers, and shipping companies to respect Malaysia's sovereign law and STOP all plastic waste shipments," she wrote in an email. The plastic waste must NOT be re-rerouted to other poor countries." In 2022, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 54, a landmark plastic law that is designed to establish a circular economy for single-use plastic products and packaging. The law addresses the export of plastic waste and requires product manufacturers to certify that their products are being recycled or composted in ways that reduce environmental pollution and minimize health effects for people who live near where the product is sent. CalRecycle is currently working on drafting regulations that will enable the implementation of the law, but West, the agency's spokeswoman, said the law requires that for any material to be considered recycled, it "must go to responsible end markets, ensuring material actually gets recycled instead of becoming waste in landfills or the environment." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Malaysia will stop accepting U.S. plastic waste, creating a dilemma for California
Malaysia will ban plastic waste imports from the U.S. starting Tuesday because of America's failure to abide by the Basel Convention treaty on international waste transfers, in a move that could have significant consequences for California. Malaysia emerged as a major destination for U.S. waste after China banned American waste imports in 2018. California shipped 864 shipping containers, or more than 10 million pounds of plastic waste, to Malaysia in 2024, according to the Basel Action Network, an advocacy group. That was second only to Georgia among U.S. states. Under Malaysian waste guidelines announced last month, the country will no longer accept plastic waste and hazardous waste from nations that didn't ratify the Basel Convention, the international treaty designed to reduce the international movement of hazardous and other waste. The U.S. is one of just a handful of countries, including Fiji and Haiti, that hasn't signed the pact. Malaysia will continue to accept plastic waste from Basel signatories. However, exports from those countries will be subject to pre-inspection at the nation of origin, according to the new guidelines Steve Wong, the chief executive of Fukutomi, a Hong Kong-based global plastic recycling company, suggests it is already having an effect on shipping ports. 'With scrap inventories building up at ports and yards, and no clear guidance yet on the enforcement discretion or timeline of Malaysia's new system, the market for imported plastic waste has effectively frozen,' he wrote in an email to people who follow recycling trends, which was shared with The Times. Much of California's plastic waste is sent overseas. A Los Angeles port spokesman said he was unaware of the impending ban. Long Beach port officials didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. An Oakland port spokesman said that facility 'hasn't historically seen much volume in this commodity, so we don't anticipate any impact from this change.' According to Wong's email, the coming ban has already disrupted trash export routes significantly, particularly for the plastics used in grocery bags, trash can liners and food wrap. 'The scrap plastics market in Malaysia has come to a virtual standstill amid tightening import regulations and widespread uncertainty ahead of the new control regime taking effect on 1 July 2025,' Wong wrote in the email. 'Recyclers, traders, and suppliers are all reporting minimal or no movement of plastic waste.' Jim Puckett of the Seattle-based Basel Action Network cheered Malaysia's decision. 'The 'recycling' is doing more harm than good as only a fraction of the exports ever get recycled,' said Puckett, the group's founder and chief of strategic direction. 'The plastics that are not feasible to be recycled are often hazardous, or contain microplastics, which are commonly dumped, burned, or released into waterways. The export of plastic waste for recycling is a complete sham and it is a relief that the U.S. contribution to this plastic waste shell game is increasingly outlawed.' According to California's waste agency, CalRecycle, the state exported 11.3 million tons of recyclable materials overseas to places such as Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico and Canada — in 2022. That number includes 100 million pounds of scrap plastic. Although the Basel Action Network's numbers indicate more than 10 million pounds went to Malaysia, CalRecycle's 2022 report didn't break down plastic exports to individual nations. A spokesperson for CalRecycle said that California 'is working to reduce plastic pollution in our state and around the world' and that exports of scrap plastic have significantly declined over the last 10 years. Maria West, the agency's communications director, said that in 2018, California exported roughly 421,000 tons, or nearly 842 million pounds of plastic scrap to Malaysia. She said that number dropped 98% in 2024 to 8,000 tons, or about 16 million pounds. Several major waste companies in California, including Athens Services and Recology, didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. Critics of California's waste system say a 1989 state law that requires cities and jurisdictions to divert waste from landfills led to an increase in the export of waste overseas. Until 2018, China was the major importer of U.S. plastic waste. However, after China implemented it's National Sword policy — which banned the import of most plastic waste — nations began sending their waste elsewhere, often to less economically advantaged nations such as Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand. Although some of the plastic is recycled in these nations, much of it is incinerated or placed in landfills, where it chokes rivers and flows into the ocean. Waste advocates such as the Basel Action Network and participants in the Basel Convention are working to reduce the international movement of contaminated, nonrecyclable plastic from economically advantaged countries, such as the United States, to less advantaged nations. Jan Dell, the president of LastBeachCleanUp, a Laguna Beach-based anti-plastic waste organization, praised the Malaysian decision. 'We're calling on cities, waste companies, brokers, and shipping companies to respect Malaysia's sovereign law and STOP all plastic waste shipments,' she wrote in an email. The plastic waste must NOT be re-rerouted to other poor countries.' In 2022, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 54, a landmark plastic law that is designed to establish a circular economy for single-use plastic products and packaging. The law addresses the export of plastic waste and requires product manufacturers to certify that their products are being recycled or composted in ways that reduce environmental pollution and minimize health effects for people who live near where the product is sent. CalRecycle is currently working on drafting regulations that will enable the implementation of the law, but West, the agency's spokeswoman, said the law requires that for any material to be considered recycled, it 'must go to responsible end markets, ensuring material actually gets recycled instead of becoming waste in landfills or the environment.'
The Star
25-06-2025
- General
- The Star
Imported e-waste contaminates Malaysia's land and lives
THE recent story in The Star about half a billion ringgit worth of illegal e-waste discover is a shocking wake-up call ("RM500mil worth of illegal e-waste seized", June 20; online at As Malaysia pushes forward in its journey toward industrial growth and digital advancement, e-waste dumping from developed countries has become a silent threat looming over our environment and public health. E-waste comprises discarded electronic devices like computers, televisions, mobile phones, and household appliances. These items often contain toxic substances including lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg). When improperly handled, these substances are released into the air, soil, and water. The groups directly affected by these toxic materials are the workers at the dump sites. Studies have shown increased rates of respiratory issues, skin disorders, kidney damage, and even cancers in communities exposed to e-waste processing. Long-term exposure, particularly in children, can impair brain development and cause irreversible neurological damage. But this does not stop here. These toxic materials remain in the soil and water for generations and become detrimental to the future of Malaysians. Crops can absorb these heavy metals from contaminated soil, leading to bioaccumulation in the food chain. Accumulation of the heavy metals can lead to genetic changes over generations, potentially leading to heritable traits. Though these impacts on humans are only theoretical at present, research on microorganisms like the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans has shown that exposure to heavy metals can impact growth, reproduction, and immune responses in subsequent generations. Why is Malaysia a dumping ground? When China – once the world's largest importer of e-waste – banned e-waste imports in 2018, many developed nations began redirecting their shipments to South-East Asia. Malaysia, with its lax enforcement and lower labour costs, quickly became a preferred destination. Malaysia is a signatory of the Basel Convention that is aimed at preventing the dumping of hazardous waste in developing countries; thus we are obligated to manage hazardous and other wastes in an environmentally-sound manner and minimise transboundary movements (moving the waste out of our national jurisdiction). The implications of unchecked e-waste imports extend far beyond today's health and environmental issues. Polluted ecosystems mean lower agricultural yields, contaminated food chains, and declining biodiversity. The economic cost of healthcare and environmental cleanup will burden future taxpayers. Moreover, Malaysia risks becoming synonymous with being a 'global landfill', which can tarnish our international image, harm tourism, and deter sustainable foreign investments. The story on the syndicate of e-waste importers must be amplified and all sectors, not only the environmental and health sectors, should take action to create awareness and impose strict standards on the production and management of e-waste. For example, school teachers can educate pupils at a young age about e-waste. Policymakers must advocate strict regulations and monitoring of e-waste management. E-waste producers must apply and execute the best practices of e-waste management. Users and buyers of electrical products must be aware of the waste management practices of electrical brands and should choose the products from brands with long-term sustainable management. The detrimental impacts may not be seen immediately, perhaps not even in the next five years, but they will surface eventually. In the short-term, Malaysia cannot be complacent. Actions and enforcement against illegal e-waste operations are urgently needed now. Authorities must improve surveillance at ports, increase transparency in licensing recyclers, and collaborate with international bodies to halt waste trafficking. Public awareness campaigns are also crucial. Schools and universities play a vital role in educating and raising awareness from a young age. Consumers must be encouraged to recycle responsibly and demand that manufacturers adopt greener and more sustainable practices. If Malaysians continue to ignore the crisis, our future generation will pay the price. The clock is ticking, and Malaysia's land and water are already suffering the damage: within just 30 to 50 years, what we now enjoy as fertile and life-sustaining resources may no longer exist. The decision to protect our people and environment from the dangers of e-waste is not just an environmental issue, it is a moral, economic, and national survival issue. The time to act is now, before the damage becomes irreversible. Have you spotted illegal e-waste dumping in your area?Send tips or photos to the Environment Department, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry through the portal and help protect Malaysia's future. DR INTAN AZURA SHAHDAN Senior lecturer International Medical School Management and Science University
New Straits Times
19-06-2025
- New Straits Times
Seven licensed e-waste plants caught handling smuggled waste
KUALA LUMPUR: Seven of the 57 premises raided in the recent crackdown on illegal e-waste processing were found to have valid licenses. Environment Department Enforcement Division Director Rosli Zul said investigations revealed that although the seven premises held valid licenses, they were believed to have been processing smuggled e-waste. "Malaysia is party to the Basel Convention, and one of the provisions under this convention is that we cannot receive e-waste from abroad for processing locally. "We have 156 licensed e-waste processing plants nationwide and these plants are only supposed to be processing e-waste of domestic origin," he told reporters today.
New Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Japan to enforce stricter measures against illegal e-waste exports to Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: The Japanese embassy in Malaysia expressed its commitment to strictly enforce measures against illegal electronic waste (e-waste) exports, today. It said that Japanese authorities will work together with Malaysian authorities to ensure that illegal e-waste from Japan does not land in Malaysia. "The government of Japan regards illegal exports of electronic waste as a serious issue. "In the event of any illegal exports, we will share information with the relevant parties and take necessary actions, such as providing guidance to the exporters involved to ensure compliance," it said in a statement today. It also underscored its commitment of adhering to the Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal. The embassy said that the Japanese government will raise awareness to exporters and actively promote using available support services, such as the pre-consultation desks provided by the Japanese ministries to help ensure that exporters comply with procedures. "We would also like to highlight that, as part of Japan's border control measures, we have successfully prevented more than 20 cases of illegal electronic waste exports to Malaysia in the past year alone." On May 19, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said that a large part of e-waste from Malaysia originated from Japan and the United States. Between Jan 1 and May 13 this year, the Department of Environment confirmed that 122 containers that arrived in Malaysia were carrying e-waste, with importers falsely declaring the contents of the containers.
