World Focus: Malaysia - where the world sends its trash

Malaysian plastic waste imports soar after China imposes ban, creating pollution crisis

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Since China banned plastic waste imports in January 2018, Malaysia has imported 754,000 tonnes of plastic from other countries, quickly becoming the world's "rubbish bin", according to Greenpeace.
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A putrid puddle filled with rubbish lies below a mountain of plastic scrap at an illegal dumpsite next to a palm oil plantation in Jenjarom, Klang, near Malaysia's largest port.

In the same Selangor town, about 70km from Kuala Lumpur, plastic waste is stacked in bags in factories, their contents spilling out onto the ground.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 22, 2019, with the headline World Focus: Malaysia - where the world sends its trash. Subscribe