Malaysia to send back plastic waste

May 30, 2019

Kuala Lumpur--Malaysia will send back 450 tons of plastic waste imported illegally from seven countries, including Japan, China and the United States, environment minister Yeo Bee Yin said.

The Southeast Asian country plans to send back another 2,550 tons of plastic waste to the places where it was shipped from if any illegality is confirmed.

The polluted waste is not reusable, despite having been sent for recycling, according to the Malaysian government.

The amount of plastic waste brought to Southeast Asian countries has increased drastically since China banned imports of such waste at the end of 2017.

Yeo said developed countries should stop sending plastic waste to developing countries. Jiji Press