KUCHING, Feb 11: The public has been urged to dispose of their E-waste (electronic waste) properly under the Environmental Quality (Scheduled Waste) Regulations 2005, handled by parties or premises licensed by the Department of Environment Sarawak.
Assistant Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni said E-waste had become a global problem. Sarawak is no exception if preventive measures are not implemented from now on.
According to Dr Hazland, in Sarawak, 73.4 metric tons of E-waste was collected in 2020 is, and 14.9 metric tons in 2021.
“If E-waste is disposed of using methods such as dumping in rivers, landfills, burning at will or given to inappropriate parties, then it is capable of endangering lives, affecting public health, and causing environmental deterioration,” he said in a statement today.
Dr Hazland said the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) Sarawak and the Department of Environment (DOE) have been working together to implement the Electrical and Electronic Waste Collection (BEE) programme in Sarawak since 2021.
He explained such programmes are to encourage the public to dispose of electrical and electronic waste at home (household e-waste) properly and motivate the community to be involved in waste recycling programmes.
He also pointed out that his Ministry, in collaboration with NREB and DOE, will implement E-waste collection campaigns throughout the State through contractors licensed under the Environmental Quality (Scheduled Waste) Regulations 2005, Environmental Quality Act 1974.
“A total of 12 collection activities has been planned for this year, covering Kuching to Miri,” he added.
E-waste is electrical and electronic goods that are damaged, dysfunctional or old or obsolete such as mobile phones, computers, televisions, washing machines, refrigerators, and air conditioners.
E-waste generation is divided into two sources, namely from the industrial sector and those produced by households.
In Malaysia, E-waste is categorised as scheduled waste with code SW110 under the First Schedule, Environmental Quality (Scheduled Waste) Regulations 2005, Environmental Quality Act 1974 enforced by the Department of Environment.
Code SW110 is construed as waste from electrical and electronic installations containing components such as accumulators, mercury switches, glass from cathode ray tubes and activated glass or other polychlorinated biphenyl capacitors or that are contaminated with cadmium, mercury, lead, nickel, chromium, copper, lithium, silver, manganese, or polychlorinated biphenyls. — DayakDaily
