SUNGAI PETANI (Feb 6): A total of 228 plastic waste recycling plants were ordered shut or suspended nationwide between July 2018 to January this year.

These factories, which include licensed or those operating illegally, committed offences under the Environmental Quality Act 1974.

Energy, Science, Technology, Climate Change and Environment (MESTECC) Deputy Minister Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis said during the same period, fines totalling RM2.323 million were slapped on factories in violation of the Act.

"Since July 2018, the Department of Environment has inspected 405 factories nationwide and 182 factories were found to be operating illegally," she today a press conference here today after inspecting a plastic waste recycling plant believed to be operating illegally near here.

Isnaraissah Munirah said integrated operations involving various agencies will continue to be carried out to detect and to take action against factories that operate illegally or cause pollution.

She said, one of the methods used is monitoring through drones to detect violations.

Commenting on the inspection into the plant today, she said the premises had been found to be operating illegally since last year.

“We will take appropriate action after investigations are carried out,” she said.

Today, the factory operating in an oil palm plantation was raided by authorities who had been investigating and gathering evidence since last year.

Checks by Bernama at the factory found that plastic waste was dumped around the area while inside it was filled with processed plastic waste.

The plant was also equipped with several closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) and plastic waste processing machines.