KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) said that a sudden halt to the importation of plastic waste could impact domestic plastic product production and the supply chain of related sectors.

However, the minstry emphasised that by reducing dependence on imported plastic waste feedstock, premises and recycling factories would shift to using local plastic waste sources entirely, thus increasing the recycling rate within the country.

In this regard, to balance the need to attract quality investments and promote circular economy initiatives domestically, MITI believes it is appropriate for plastic waste importation activities to continue to meet the needs and demands of the domestic plastic manufacturing industry.

"However, dependence on imported waste should be gradually reduced in line with the Malaysia Roadmap Towards Zero Single-Use Plastics 2018-2030," said the ministry in a written response posted on the official Parliament website today.

The ministry was responding to a question from Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew regarding measures to prevent the importation of plastic waste and hazardous waste materials.

Meanwhile, MITI said that the industry needs to be prepared to support an industrial model that is restorative or regenerative in nature, with designs using closed-loop material flows within the economic system.

"This approach aims to encourage the design and use of products with minimal primary raw material requirements, enhancing recyclability and reuse characteristics, as well as increasing the production and availability of secondary raw material resources," it added.

-- BERNAMA