PARLIAMENT | Malaysia will not be a trash can for developed countries, Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin reiterated today.

"The import of plastic waste has been frozen, illegal recycling factories will no longer operate... the operators of the illegal factories will be punished under Malaysian law.

"The government is committed to ensure that Malaysia will not be the plastic trash can for developed countries," Yeo told the Dewan Rakyat during minister question time today.

Countries like New Zealand, Australia, and the UK have turned to Malaysia as a destination to export their plastic waste after China stopped importing plastics for recycling.

The increase in plastic imports had led to the mushrooming of illegal recycling factories.

Yeo said that a joint-cabinet committee headed by the Local Government and Housing Ministry has been formed to determine the next step in stopping other countries from sending their plastics to Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Yeo also said that the government plans on banning plastic waste that cannot be fully recycled.

Her ministry had previously aimed to make Malaysia a zero single-use plastic nation by 2030.