UK agrees to take back 42 containers of plastic waste from Malaysia

Colombo (News 1st): The United Kingdom has agreed to repatriate 42 containers comprising illegal shipments of plastic waste from Malaysia in accordance with the Basel Convention. The British High Commission said that authorities and shipping agents were currently working together in the repatriation process. The containers, which had arrived at Penang Port between March 2018 and March 2019, were deemed illegal as they failed to comply with the necessary import papers. The announcement came following a recent visit by the UK’s Environment Agency (EA) in response to news of the illegal shipment of plastic waste from the UK. While Malaysia has taken decisions signalling its zero-tolerance policy, Sri Lanka appears to be muddleheaded towards a very similar problem – the waste found inside containers.

06th July: A revelation that 65 containers with waste, had been discovered by the Customs. 10th July: Customs open several containers. Initial investigations reveal that there is waste in the containers. 12th July: News 1st reveals of another garbage stock found at the Katunayake Free Trade Zone. Names of 3 companies implicated in the import of garbage. 22nd July: Petition filed at the Court of Appeal seeking a Mandamus Writ to resend the garbage containers to its country of origin.

Although court action was initiated it now transpires that the government analyst is said to be unable to conduct the proper testing of this garbage. This revelation must be deemed to be unacceptable as the entire country watches in disbelief at the inaction of the part of the government. These containers were detected at a free-port and the Colombo Port and necessary permissions to continue these operations are still in force, although it has become clear that the contents of the containers, garbage is not welcome in Sri Lanka.