Photo by Sam Fong/The Edge

SUNGAI PETANI (July 3): The Kedah Department of Environment (DOE) detected a recycling factory suspected of processing used plastic into fish feed pellets, in an industrial area here, on Wednesday.

Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the activity was detected by the DOE in Op Patuh (the Integrated Compliance Operation), which was carried out jointly with the Royal Malaysian Police and the Immigration Department from 11am on Wednesday.

He said in the operation, two factories were found to be carrying out off-site acquisition of scheduled waste (e-waste) without environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval and a licence from the DOE, and were conducting plastic recycling activities without EIA approval.

He said that one of the recycling factories involved is believed to be operating illegally, and is producing pellets packed and labelled as fish food.

"The inspection found about 100 tonnes had been processed into pellets, and packed in plastic bags labelled as freshwater fish food," he said.

Nik Nazmi said this after joining in the operation to raid the two factories, in an effort to whiten recycling operation sites in the industrial area here on Wednesday.

In a raid at another factory, more than 1,500 tonnes of electronic waste were found, and an equipment detention order was issued on the premises.

"I would like to emphasise that the Op Patuh, which was implemented today (Wednesday), is in line with and coincides with the aspiration to whiten the industry in Kedah.

"This aims to control activities that do not comply with the law and damage the environment, risk the health of the local community, and cause leakages in state and national revenue," he said.

He said his ministry is always committed to ensuring that all industries comply with the Environmental Quality Act 1974, as well as other related legislations.

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