Malaysia's DOE regulates e-waste. Or do they?

pix from New Straits Times

It's 2024, and much has happened since Yeo Bee Yin's crusade against waste processing, in particular e-waste.

In Singapore, it is estimated that there are at least 60,000 tons of e-waste produced annually. E-waste is defined as any items discarded that runs on electricity, with or without batteries. In fact, Singapore has around 800 collection centres, many of which includes retailers who have a 'collect back' policy especially for customers who have upgraded their equipment or devices. While the NEA (National Environmental Agency) oversees this, in Malaysia, that role falls under the DOE (Department of Environment)

The DOE's e-waste management notice on its website alone will confuse you more, as it says 'it is the responsibility of the consumer to dispose off their e-waste responsibly' by contacting registered e-waste recyclers by either dropping off or getting them to collect. All well and good. And....it stops there. No list of registered recyclers, no schedule of waste classification except for a general statement of 'SW110' code for waste that is classified as scheduled waste. Cantik.

And what about the current Madani government, whose Minister Nik Nazmi is more concerned about his fitness than the blanket ban for the industry of e-waste recycling. Why so? Malaysia does not generate enough e-waste, in fact the importation of e-waste too is 'controlled', perhaps by a blind sight of the ratification of the Basel Accord.

Given that there are technologies especially green technology available to best recycle these classified waste, why is Nik Nazmi taking his time to see the benefits of a controlled industry? Illegal waste recyclers have been moving their operations by exploiting cheap labour all these years, polluting the local areas where they operate.

The Minister has the authority, but will he choose to open his eyes to legitimate recyclers who can and are willing to take the lead to put Malaysia on a trajectory of being e-waste champions that even Singapore seems to be ahead of?

We aim to show what and where Malaysia is lacking and should do, and benefit from this waste that simply is a matter that should be managed, not blanketly ignored.

(NEXT: The e-waste Industry- how does the Madani Government manage it?)