Massive 110 Containers Of Toxic Waste Found At Johor Port
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The largest shipment of toxic waste was transiting through Malaysia when 110 containers were discovered to contain electric arc furnace (EAF) residue, which is hazardous if improperly handled.
What you need to know: The shipment was falsely declared as concentrated zinc, but the true content turned out to be EAF dust residue. The containers originated from Romania with a final destination at Indonesia, though it lay unclaimed at Malaysia’s Port Tanjung Pelepas in early June. The shipment of 1,864 tonnes of EAF dust were then found and the Department of Environment (DOE) was notified.
EAF residue is classified as a toxic substance under the Basel Convention and as a scheduled waste under the Environment Quality Regulations (Scheduled Waste) 2006.
Who said what: Environment and Water Minister Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said that Malaysia has never given any approval or received any notification for the item to transit through the country. The DOE has already notified its Romanian counterpart as well as Interpol.
Why it matters: This isn’t the first time that illegal trash has made its way onto Malaysian shores. The first six months of 2020 saw 28 illegal waste imports at the ports around the country. Last year also saw illegally smuggled trash at Port Klang, which was sent back to their respective countries.
Read more:
Massive haul of toxic waste [The Star]
110 containers of toxic waste discovered at Tg Pelepas Port [NST]
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