IPOH: The state’s scrap tyre pyrolysis manufacturers in Perak are facing a permanent shutdown unless they are prepared to sit down with the state government to talk about safer pyrolysis manufacturing practices.
Pyrolysis is a technique that uses thermal heating to recycle scrap tyres to produce three main by-products, namely, oil, carbon black and wire steel cord.
There are at least 25 scrap tyre pyrolysis manufacturers in Perak who are still using old techniques to extract the by-products, which are a safety, health and environment hazard
These manufacturers are also running their businesses illegally.
State Health Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said a temporary suspension would be enforced, with immediate effect, until the manufacturers were ready to talk to the state government.
He said whether they would be allowed to continue to operate depended on how prepared they were to either improve current practices by adding filters to reduce health risks and environmental hazards, or to consolidate individual operations into a business structure run by a consortium.
“Enough public complaints have been made to prompt the state government to come down hard on these operators.
“Various actions have been taken against these manufacturers in the past but they appear to have had no impact on how their businesses are run,” he said.
Mah was speaking after meeting with state Department of Environment (DOE) and Malaysian Association of Tyre Retreaders and Dealers Societies (MATRDS) representatives.
State DOE director Abdul Razak Abdul Manap, who was present, said since 2009, the department had issued 44 notices and 61 compounds, made 18 seizures and brought one operator to court.
Hoe pointed out that the DOE did not have the authority to shut down the businesses, adding that the power was in the hands of the local councils.
Dr Mah acknowledged that the local councils, despite public complaints had not closed down the operations.
“The state government understands that the scrap tyre pyrolysis business can be good as it recycles scrap tyres. Our concern is the technology used to extract the by-products.
“The method used produces pollutants in the form of waste water, smells and smoke, which have a dire effect on people and the environment.
“So it is necessary to bring the manufacturers to the discussion table.
And, until they can come up with cleaner and better practices, their operations are suspended,” he said. By Jaspal Singh