Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Waste Plastic Imports to Malaysia

In early 2018, China stopped accepting plastic waste from the world. This caused increased imports to developing countries, that did not have the capabilities to manage the voluminous waste. Most of the plastic waste were redirected to Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia. 

We take a deep dive into the Malaysian situation. There was an influx of waste plastics imports in 2018 and a subsequent decrease in late 2018, as it banned contaminated plastic waste in October 2018, in an effort to restrict the overflowing supply of waste plastics. More recently, monthly plastic waste imports began to increase. The Pakatan Harapan administration has also highlighted plans to build at least one incinerator in each state (it has thirteen), and there is concern this may again open the flood gate for imports.

Not surprisingly, the surging waste plastics business has triggered other issues. These include illegal recycling factories, waste dumping sites, and open burning. Khor Reports has consolidated data on waste plastics issues in a dashboard, with information compiled from media reports. This provides an overall view of plastic waste imports and the concerns it has raised for the Malaysian people. The data is as at 27 September 2019, collected by a group of volunteers over a period of about two weeks.

As China eschews the trade in plastic waste, Malaysia and its Southeast Asian counterparts have reported that they are overwhelmed by this material. Waste plastics often have three fates: recycling, incineration, or disposal in a landfill. The surge of imports and the lack of capability and capacity in these segments led to unscrupulous practices widely reported in the media. 

Illegal recycling factories are operating in the dark. There are multiple news reports of public upset over eye, throat, and breathing discomfort from toxic fumes produced from the open burning of plastics (often at night). A recent news report for Sungai Petani (in the northern state of Kedah) reported an illegal plastic recycling factory ramping up production during the southern ASEAN peat fire driven haze-smog, to try to mask its noxious output. More recently, a team of Canadian journalists went undercover. In the guise of selling waste to illegal recycling factories in Malaysia, they discovered large amounts of plastics dumped in landfills and rivers and that they are also being burned in the open. 

Illegal waste dumping sites can pose a human health risk due to the open burning of plastics. Studies have shown that burning plastics contain chlorine, emit dioxins, and furans. These are highly toxic and persistent environmental pollutants. Media accounts point to an area in the Kuala Muda district (of Kedah) where air pollution levels were “very unhealthy,” blaming roughly 50 illegal recycling factories burning plastic waste in their compounds.

Amidst the growing concerns, some have viewed the ban on plastic waste imports to China as a big business opportunity. A report by Greenpeace Malaysia and Kuala Langat Environmental Protection Association (Selangor) highlighted that Malaysia imported 754,000 tonnes of plastic valued at Ringgit Malaysia 483 million between January and July of 2018. A potential way to combat the issue of plastic waste could be for organisations and individuals to move towards a circular economy and prioritise the reduction of plastic waste. 

More details are available on a customised basis; including additional data fields. Please contact us to find out more.

Maps and datasets were assisted by Nadirah Sharif and Loh Rachel of Khor Reports, and our amazing volunteers: Chaleena Suvanpratum, Clara Oi Ai Leen, H. Cyrene Surupi Perera, Eunice Su Hui Siew, Goh Paul Mae, Ruth Ng Wern Ai, and Vincent Loh Xue Yan.

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