PETALING JAYA: Enforcement agencies will beef up actions to stop illegal imports of mixed waste paper, following news of such trash being shipped here from the United States.

The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) said Malaysia does not allow imports of mixed or unsorted waste paper, including paper contaminated with plastic.

The ministry was responding to a news report by the Los Angeles Times, which said that beverage cartons from California in the US have been illegally exported to Malaysia and Vietnam as “recycled” mixed paper, violating international environmental law.

“We will continue to strengthen enforcement, information-sharing and inter-agency coordination to ensure Malaysia is not used as a destination for illegal or contaminated waste,” the ministry said.

The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES) is also committed to preventing illegal waste from entering the country and to protecting public health and the environment.

“Our position is clear: any waste import must comply with strict legal and environmental requirements,” said the NRES when contacted.

The Los Angeles Times report said more than 117,000 tons (106,140.6 tonnes) or 4,126 shipping containers worth of mixed paper bales were sent by California waste companies to Malaysia between January and July last year.

Such was based on information by waste watchdog groups The Last Beach Cleanup and Basel Action Network (BAN), which conducted a probe using tracking devices to see where the waste ends up.

Here's a look at how their probe took place:

The report also said Malaysia and Vietnam had banned imports of mixed paper bales including coloured paper, newspapers and magazines from the US because they were often contaminated with non-paper products and plastic, such as beverage cartons.

In July last year, Malaysia also tightened rules for plastic waste, with all imports of plastic waste involving waste, parings and scraps of plastics needing approval from authorities.

Only three types allowed

Malaysia only allows certain grades of waste paper to be imported for manufacturing purposes.

Three types of waste paper are allowed to be imported under guidelines by SIRIM QAS, including unbleached kraft paper, paper made mainly from chemical pulp and paper made from mechanical pulp like newspapers and journals.

Miti said all waste paper intended for import into Malaysia has been subject to an inspection process since Jan 10, 2022.

Imported waste paper also requires a Certificate of Approval in line with a Customs order administered through its agency, namely SIRIM QAS International Bhd.

Other kinds of waste paper, including unsorted waste, is not allowed to be imported into Malaysia, as specified in the guidelines.

Stemming illegal waste

Giving its assurance, Miti said the existing framework in Malaysia already prohibits contaminated or mixed waste paper from entering the country.

It added that enforcement activities fall under the responsibility of the Department of Environment, an agency under the NRES.

“Nevertheless, we will continue to review enforcement effectiveness and will further strengthen controls and coordination where necessary to address emerging risks,” the ministry said.

Miti said it works closely with relevant agencies, including SIRIM QAS, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department and the Department of Environment, to monitor and control waste imports at every stage.

“Measures include mandatory pre-shipment inspections at the country of origin, risk-based and random inspections at ports of entry, verification through the COA mechanism and audits at approved manufacturing premises,” it said.

The NRES said while certain types of waste may be utilised as resources under strict regulatory controls, such practices must not be exploited by developed countries as a means to offload their waste management responsibilities onto other nations.

“The transfer of waste should not result in an unfair shifting of environmental, health and economic costs to recipient countries.

“If not effectively addressed, this trend risks evolving into a new form of waste colonisation,” it said.

The NRES said Malaysia’s position is firm - any transboundary movement of waste must be lawful and must not undermine Malaysia’s environmental protection efforts, public health or national interests.

As for other countries, here are some examples of their policies against other waste paper: