EIA Applauds Malaysia’s Ban on Non-Basel Plastic Waste Imports to End Waste Colonialism

EIA Applauds Malaysia’s Ban on Non-Basel Plastic Waste Imports to End Waste Colonialism

(IN BRIEF) The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) commends Malaysia’s July 1 enforcement of stricter import rules under the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) (Amendment) Order 2025, limiting plastic-waste imports to Basel Convention parties, raising contamination limits, and requiring pre-shipment inspections. The measures close loopholes exploited since China’s 2018 ban, which had redirected polluted plastics to Malaysia, leading to a 2.7 million-tonne mismanagement gap in 2020. EIA experts Lauren Weir and Amy Youngman highlight Malaysia’s stand against waste colonialism and urge high-income exporters like the UK and US to adopt similar bans and strengthen domestic recycling. The move sets a high bar for the upcoming Global Plastics Treaty negotiations.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 1-Jul-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Effective 1 July 2025, Malaysia has enacted far-reaching restrictions on plastic-waste imports, shutting the door on “waste colonialism” and bolstering protection for its communities and environment. Under the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) (Amendment) Order 2025, only plastic-scrap shipments from Basel Convention signatories may apply for pre-approval, while imports under HS code 3915 must now meet tighter contamination limits and pass mandatory pre-shipment inspections. The new measures, enforced by the Royal Malaysian Customs Department and SIRIM Berhad, explicitly bar non-Basel parties—including the United States—from exporting plastic waste to Malaysia.

China’s 2018 National Sword policy first disrupted global plastic-waste flows by banning many imports, exposing wealthy nations’ overreliance on exporting low-value, contaminated plastics. Rather than investing in domestic recycling infrastructure, exporters rerouted waste to Southeast Asia—leaving Malaysia with a 2.7-million-tonne management shortfall in 2020, as documented in EIA’s The Truth Behind Trash.

In response, Malaysia has emerged as a regional leader, strengthening its legal framework and enforcement to ensure it is not used as a dumping ground.

Plastic tap installation outside the first round of Global Plastics Treaty talks, by artist Von Wong

“Waste traders chased out of China have historically targeted countries with weaker regulations,” says Lauren Weir, EIA Senior Ocean Campaigner. “We commend Malaysia for taking decisive action to block contaminated imports and shield its people from the health and environmental hazards of poorly managed plastic waste.”

Data from Basel Action Network show that in February 2025 alone, the UK exported 4,200 tonnes of plastic waste to Malaysia—flows now halted for non-Basel exporters. EIA Legal and Policy Specialist Amy Youngman adds: “By limiting imports to Basel parties, Malaysia is upholding multilateral responsibility and excluding non-parties from evading global accountability. This is precisely the leadership we need as negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty resume next month in Geneva.”

While the EU plans to ban plastic-waste exports to non-OECD countries, the US, UK, and Japan continue to exploit loopholes. EIA calls on all high-income nations—particularly the UK and US—to stop plastic-waste exports and invest in domestic recycling capacity through binding legislation and international commitments.

“Ending waste colonialism starts by turning off the tap at its source,” Youngman emphasizes. “Malaysia’s bold stance sets the bar for both the Global Plastics Treaty and the upstream measures—capping production, improving product design, and scaling sustainable waste management—that must follow.”

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SOURCE: Environmental Investigation Agency