SUNGAI PETANI: Another illegal recycling factory, suspected of processing e-waste, was raided by the state Environment Department in an industrial area here yesterday.
Its director, Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab, said a team from the department detected suspected scheduled waste transfers from a factory in the area and raided the premises about 9pm.
"The factory was suspected of separating and storing scheduled waste, which includes e-waste from electrical and electronic assemblies, circuit boards, metal scraps and used lithium batteries," she said in a statement today.
"There was a trailer truck inside the premises, and part of the metal scrap and one jumbo bag suspected to contain scheduled waste were being loaded into the truck.
"Several individuals, suspected to be workers of the illegal recycling factory, escaped through a rear exit."
Sharifah Zakiah said all the scheduled waste and the truck found at the premises were seized, with an estimated total value of RM700,000, as well as with related documents.
She said the four piles of e-waste and a jumbo bag of scheduled waste found at the factory will be sent to the Chemistry Department for analysis.
"The case will be investigated under Sections 18, 34A and 34B of the Environmental Quality Act 1974.
"In addition, we will inform the local authorities about the illegal operation of the premises for action under their jurisdiction," she said.
On Wednesday, the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry and the state Environment Department raided two illegal factories processing e-waste and plastics. (hyperlink: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nst.com.my/amp/news/crime-courts/2024/0...)
During the raid, about 1,500 metric tonnes of electronic waste and 100 metric tonnes of used plastic were seized.
