Container from LA suspected of carrying plastic waste to be seized on Monday

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By Bernama of Straits Times

Malaysia will be detaining a container from Los Angeles, suspected to be carrying commercial plastic waste when it arrives in Port Klang on Monday (March 22). - NSTP file pic

Malaysia will be detaining a container from Los Angeles, suspected to be carrying commercial plastic waste when it arrives in Port Klang on Monday (March 22). - NSTP file pic

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will be detaining a container from Los Angeles, suspected to be carrying commercial plastic waste when it arrives in Port Klang on Monday (March 22).

Environment and Water Minister, Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man in a statement today said the Department of Environment (DOE) had received the information from Sahabat Alam Malaysia on March 12 that a container from Los Angeles is believed to contain plastic waste.

The ship left the United States city on Feb 14 and is expected to arrive in Port Klang on March 22.

He said DOE, the authority in charge of cross-border plastic waste under the Basel Convention which came into effect on Jan1, 2021, found there were no applications for the import of plastic waste received from the exporting country.

Tuan Ibrahim said DOE had contacted the Port Klang Authority (LPK) and Westport Malaysia Sdn Bhd as well as the Customs Department to detain the container.

Integrated inspection by DOE, Customs, LPK, National Solid Waste Management Department (JPSPN), Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) will be carried out the moment the vessel arrives in Port Klang, he said.