THE Department of Environment (DOE) has collected 2,283.7 tonnes of electric and electronic waste (e-waste) as of this month, Environment and Water Minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said.

He said the amount exceeded the 800 tonnes targeted for collection by the department for the whole of this year. 

“The summit of the e-waste collection programme is held this year to support the aspiration of Kasa (Environment and Water Ministry) to recognise the last Saturday of each month as E-Waste Collection Day,” he said when launching the 2021 Electrical and Electronic Waste Collection Summit Programme virtually at the AEON Mall AU2 in Kuala Lumpur today.

“This initiative was introduced to boost public awareness of the importance of e-waste management in an environmentally friendly manner.”

He said e-waste pollution has become a major issue at the global level due to poorly managed disposal activities and its impact on human health and the environment. 

He said poorly managed e-waste could cause cancer and kidney damage as well as affect the respiratory system.

DOE director-general Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar, in his speech, urged all levels of society to support and work together with the agency to ensure the management of e-waste is handled in an environment-friendly manner. – Bernama, November 27, 2021.