GNV News, February 8, 2026

On February 4, 2026, the import of electronic waste (E-waste) was completely banned in Malaysia. Under the 2023 Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order, the Director-General of Environment had discretionary authority to permit e-waste imports under certain conditions, but under the new decision, e-waste has been classified under the “absolute prohibition” category. The announcement of this total ban comes amid an expanding corruption probe. The Director-General of Environment and their deputy have been detained and had assets seized on suspicion of abuse of power and corruption related to e-waste monitoring. It has also been decided that a special committee will be established to investigate and strengthen enforcement related to e-waste, and crackdowns on illegal e-waste at all ports are expected to be further stepped up.

Electronic waste refers to discarded electronic devices. In Malaysia, six categories are currently designated: mobile phones, computers/laptops, televisions, air conditioners, refrigerators, and washing machines/dryers. E-waste contains hazardous metals and toxins such as mercury, lead, and arsenic. In principle, it can only be processed at facilities licensed by the Ministry of Environment, but the construction cost of formal treatment facilities is high, and informal/illegal processing also takes place. In such unregulated recycling areas and among related workers, cases of DNA damage, neurodevelopmental disorders, miscarriages, premature births, skin diseases, hearing loss, dizziness, respiratory disorders, and male reproductive system disorders have been increasing. Harmful substances pollute water, air, and soil, heightening health risks through agricultural products as well.

Because of these health impacts, the countries that export e-waste to other nations are particularly likely to be high‑income countries, and every year about 60–90% of the world’s e-waste is illegally exported to low‑income countries. Malaysia banned the import of e-waste in 2017, but there were exceptions allowing imports approved by the Ministry of Environment, as well as illegal imports. After China banned e-waste imports in 2018, Malaysia came under the spotlight as one of the new “dumping destinations.” In 2022, more than 1,000 containers were illegally imported every month, and the e-waste was processed domestically. This illegal market is driven by high profits from extracting precious metals, while in the background it exacerbates health damage, tax revenue losses, greenhouse gas emissions, and the depletion of finite resources that cannot be fully recycled. The complete ban on e-waste imports is expected to curb these impacts.

Learn more about issues related to electronic waste → “The Problem of Electronic Waste”

Waste circuit boards, one type of e-waste (Photo: Rwanda Green Fund / Flickr [CC BY-ND 2.0])