IMPEL LIFE SWEAP representatives and Malaysian waste authorities liaison meeting to address the illegal trade in waste will take place on 24 – 26 September 2019 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In 2018, Malaysia became the world’s largest importer of plastic waste, receiving millions of tonnes from Europe, the US, Japan and other countries. The UK competent authorities have been preventing increasing numbers of illegal waste exports from leaving the country. Malaysian authorities are similarly engaged in combatting this trade, and it is anticipated that enhanced co-operation would benefit both countries’ efforts.
This event brings together authorities responsible for enforcing the provisions of the Basel Convention in their respective jurisdictions. The liaison meeting will focus on the governance structures for waste management in both countries and aims to develop strategies for combatting illegal shipments waste and facilitating repatriations of waste.
The objectives of the event are:
- to enhance understanding of the existing international frameworks and policies related to waste management and the trade in waste in particular;
- to exchange best practice on combatting illegal waste exports, including inspection procedures, intelligence exchange, stakeholder engagement identification of plastic waste and repatriation of waste;
- to strengthen cooperation among national authorities, as well as regional and international cooperation.
The participants will include officers from MESTECC, Department of Environment, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, the Port Control Unit in Port Penang, National Solid Waste Management Department, and other relevant agencies.
For more information contact the LIFE SWEAP Project Manager Katie Olley.
