In 2020 the state of Perak managed to collect 44.3 tonnes of e-waste. That number grew more than five times this year to 256 tonnes.
That makes Perak the state with the highest recorded collection of electrical and electronic waste in Malaysia.
Its State Health, Science, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman, Mohd Akmal Kamarudin credited the success to the involvement of various parties.
He said that the effort would not be successful if it were not for the Ipoh City Council, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), various licensed companies and contractors, and various other agencies.
Previously, the public did not know where to throw the electrical and electronic gadgets. However, there are now companies and contractors that can collect these items so that they are not strewn about or simply left anywhere.
Perak State Health, Science, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman, Mohd Akmal Kamarudin
So what happens to all the e-waste? They are collected and managed by companies licensed by the Perak Department of Environment for recycling or disposal.
Of course, Perak is not alone in it’s efforts to properly treat e-waste. Recently the Environment and Water Ministry (KASA) announced that it will cooperate with the state government to handle e-waste in flood-affected areas.
READ MORE: KASA Wants Flood Victim’s E-Waste To Be Handled Separately