Malaysia starts enforcing total ban on e-waste imports

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian customs officials started enforcing a total ban on e-waste imports on Wednesday, seeking to close loopholes on illegal shipments that still plague the Southeast Asian nation.

Tens of millions of tonnes of e-waste are produced globally every year, and many discarded devices and appliances can leak heavy metals, plastics and other toxic chemicals.

Many countries, including Malaysia, have banned the import of e-waste, but weak enforcement and reports of systemic corruption continue to made it an attractive target for unscrupulous brokers.