Hypocritical To Label Malaysia A Dumping Ground For E Waste

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From Michael Soh
Recent concerns over Malaysia being a “dumping ground” for global waste traders are exaggerated and fail to acknowledge the broader reality of global e-waste management.
If Malaysia is to be labeled as such, then countries like Sweden, Finland, Germany, and Belgium should also be scrutinised, as they actively import e-waste despite being signatories of the Basel Convention.
The double standard
Sweden, Finland, Germany, and Belgium, all highly industrialised nations with strict environmental policies, continue to import e-waste. They recognise the economic and environmental value of proper e-waste processing and material recovery.
Germany, one of the largest e-waste importers in the EU, processes imported e-waste for high-value material recovery, including precious metals like gold, silver, and palladium. In 2022, Germany imported over 200,000 metric tonnes of e-waste legally for recycling.
Belgium hosts leading e-waste recycling facilities that process imports for raw material recovery, contributing to its circular economy. Umicore, a major Belgian company, recycles metals from e-waste sourced globally.
Sweden and Finland import e-waste to feed advanced recycling systems, leveraging technology to extract valuable materials sustainably. Finland’s Boliden Rönnskär smelter is a key player in processing international e-waste into reusable metals.
If these advanced economies, with strong environmental credentials, recognise the need for e-waste imports to sustain green technology, why is Malaysia being singled out for engaging in the same practice?
Malaysia’s missed opportunity
China has developed some of the most advanced green e-waste recycling technologies, including hydrometallurgical and bioleaching processes, which significantly reduce environmental impact compared to conventional methods.
However, local Malaysian companies have not adopted such technologies, mainly due to high costs and lack of incentives.
While policymakers and Basel consultants argue against e-waste imports, they fail to acknowledge that Malaysia’s domestic e-waste also requires advanced recycling solutions.
The same infrastructure needed to handle imports is crucial for processing local e-waste, which otherwise ends up in informal sectors or landfills, leading to worse environmental consequences.
Economic reality
Not everything that is profitable can be produced in the US or Malaysia. Economic factors such as labour costs, supply chain efficiency, and technology accessibility determine manufacturing viability.
Despite the US lead in chip design, much of its chip fabrication is outsourced to Taiwan and South Korea due to economic efficiencies. A significant portion of lithium-ion battery recycling occurs in Asia due to economies of scale, even though the US has the technology;
Malaysia has the potential to become a regional hub for green e-waste recycling, but it needs scale to justify investments in sustainable technology.
Lack of consistency
If imported e-waste is so hazardous to the environment, why are seized e-waste shipments often resold in the open market instead of being safely disposed of?
This contradiction highlights a lack of consistency in the argument against imports. If e-waste is truly dangerous, it should be destroyed like confiscated drugs, such as marijuana, rather than reintroduced into the supply chain.
The fact that local operators can process seized e-waste implies that they have the capability to handle imported e-waste safely. If local industries can utilise it, then banning its import is an inconsistent policy that hurts economic opportunities while failing to address the real issue—lack of proper green technology adoption.
Applying common sense
One does not need to be an expert in e-waste or an environmental activist to apply common sense to this issue. E-waste management has been a global challenge for over 32 years, yet many of the proposed solutions ignore the realities of economic sustainability, technology access, and the need for proper recycling infrastructure.
Instead of simplistic bans and fear-based narratives, practical, science-driven policies should be implemented to ensure sustainable and responsible e-waste management.
A balanced approach
Malaysia should not be unfairly labeled as a “dumping ground” when other developed nations actively engage in similar e-waste trade for sustainable recycling.
Instead of outright bans, policymakers should embrace green e-waste technology and attract investment to build sustainable processing capacity. This approach ensures environmental responsibility while fostering economic growth and technological advancement. - FMT
Michael Soh is an FMT reader.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

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