Govt drawing up guidelines for disposal of solar panels, EV batteries

KLANG: Guidelines for the disposal of solar panels and electric vehicle (EV) batteries are currently being developed, says Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister said that this is due to concerns over the disposal for such materials that could harm the environment.

“Previously, there were only a few solar panel and EV users, but usage among the public is increasing.

“We are currently discussing guidelines or perhaps a mechanism for the disposal of these materials to prevent any environmental issues,” he said during a briefing with editors here on Thursday (June 26).

Nik Nazmi conducted a working visit to Westport where at least 106 containers filled with electronic waste have been found over the past three months.

The Customs Department seized 301 containers suspected of containing ewaste from March 21 to June 19.

Of the 301 containers, Nik said so far, 106 containers were found filled to the brim with ewaste and scrap metal, almost entirely from developed countries in the west.

Nik Nazmi added that Malaysia, along with other South East Asian countries like Indonesia and the Philippines, are targets for syndicates to dump ewaste following China’s end to solid waste import.

He pledged to improve cross-agency and ministry cooperation, including with the Customs Department and the police, to ensure that Malaysia will not be an illegal dumping ground of ewaste smuggling from other developed countries.

According to Nik Nazmi, there are 175 licensed facilities in the country for ewaste processing.

Previously on May 3, The Star reported that the Selangor Environment Department had busted 18 containers docked at Westport filled with ewaste with 11 other containers filled with plastic waste and other varieties of scrap.