He said the decision was agreed upon at the meeting of state Environment Ministers and Executive Committee Members responsible for the environment (Mexcoe) today.

“The Department of Environment (DoE) is cooperating with the Japan Cooperation Agency (JICA) to develop the household e-waste management and control system.

“DoE will look into and get legal advice from the ministry and if the legislation is ready, by 2018, we (Malaysia) will have a system and legislation relating to the management and handling of household e-waste,” he told a media conference after chairing Mexcoe 2016 today.

He said Malaysia already had a system of e-waste disposal for industry but had yet to have a management and control system for the disposal of household items such as air conditioners, refrigerators, computers, and mobile phones.

“At present, the people are likely to throw household e-waste into drains, bushes and regular rubbish bins, which brings about adverse effects to the environment if we do not take immediate action,” he said.

Also present were its Deputy Minister, Hamim Samuri and the ministry’s Secretary-General, Azizan Ahmad.

Mexcoe is a formal forum to encourage cooperation and coordination between the federal and state governments in the management of environmental issues.

– BERNAMA