Kedah Doe Suspends Operations Of Chemical Packaging Facility

ALOR SETAR, Feb 22 (Bernama) -- The Kedah Department of Environment (DOE) suspended the operations of a chemical packaging facility in the Sungai Petani Industrial Area, Sungai Petani, yesterday.

Its director, Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said during their monitoring, they identified a premises in the area suspected of releasing effluents beyond allowable limits.

"The detection of these effluents was based on observations of effects in the drainage system in front of the premises.

“Upon further investigation, it  was discovered that the facility accepted used chemical containers, cleaned them and then refilled them with new chemicals, which were subsequently sold to buyers," she said in a statement here today.

She said that the used chemical containers are categorised as scheduled waste under waste code SW 409, according to the Environmental Quality (Scheduled Waste) Regulations 2005.

Storing or handling scheduled waste off-site, like cleaning used chemical containers, necessitates approval of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report and a Licence under Section 18 of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, she added.

"Unauthorised acquisition of scheduled waste can cause chemical or heavy metal pollution in water sources. This premises faces enforcement action under Section 38 (1)(a) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974," she said. 

Sharifah Zakiah said the department would improve monitoring to detect any illegal acquisition of scheduled waste, which could lead to environmental pollution and public health issues, while urging the public to report any environmental pollution activities at toll-free hotline 1-800-88-2727 or http://eaduan.doe.gov.my.

-- BERNAMA