ALOR STAR: The Department of Environment (DOE) has seized 170 metric tonnes electronic waste and impounded a factory for storing and carrying out electronic waste (e-waste) recovery activity illegally.
Kedah DOE director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said the department uncovered an illegal scrap metal recovery activity in the raid at the premises located at Bukit Selambau Industrial Area in Sungai Petani on Wednesday.
Based on investigation, the operator have obtained an Environmental Impact Assessment Report Assessment on March 28, 2022, to carry out scheduled waste for SW104 Code (metal dross, dust & slag with copper contents), SW422 (Electronic cables with copper wires) scrap metal, she said.
"However, the premises have failed to apply a license under Section 18, of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and obtain other approvals for pollution containment equipment," she said in a statement today.
She said during the raid, the department has seized 214 palettes of scheduled waste suspected to be e-waste with estimated weight of about 170 metric tonnes.
"We suspect the premises tried to carry out e-waste recovery activity by mixing scheduled waste with metal scrap through melting process.
"There is a possibility that the electrical and electronic waste were imported illegally through the country's entry points. We are carrying out further investigation to verify the matter," she said.
Sharifah Zakiah said any move to store the e-waste outside permitted site or recovery process of scheduled waste material, such as e-waste require an approval for EIA report and Section 18 of the Environmental Quality Act.
Any illegal activity of scheduled waste without pollution containment may cause air pollution in surrounding area, she said.
"It also has the potential to lead towards illegal discharge of non-valuable scheduled waste and residue discharge, besides causing heavy metal pollution on the air, soil, underground water and river.
"An exposure to heavy metal may cause harm to human health," she said.