VATIS UPDATE Article

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) initiative at ensuring unwanted electronics, particularly mobile phones and their related devices, are disposed of safely goes beyond just spreading the message or collecting the electronic waste (e-waste). The commission has also ensured that the discarded products collected under its mobile e-waste programme themed “Old Phone, New Life” are safely recycled or disposed of using technology and systems that are environmentally sound and in accordance with standards.

It is for this reason that MCMC has partnered with Shan Poornam Metals Sdn Bhd, which is among the pioneers in recycling e-waste in the country. The company’s plant at Penang, utilises advanced technology that meets international standards with certification such as the ISO 14001:2004, OHSAS 18001:2007 and ISO 9001:2008 from Afnor Certification, based in the United Kingdom. “E-waste haphazardly disposed of could have an adverse impact on human health and the environment,” said S. Selvakumar, at Shan Poornam.

The mobile e-waste is collected and sent to the plant. The discarded phones are manually screened and the units that can be saved are refurbished and sent back to the counters for sale, after the devices undergo the data wiping process. For those that cannot be refurbished, Shan Poornam will ensure proper disposal and recovery of useable materials. The mobile e-waste recycling process contributed to 350,000 metric tonnes of e-waste recycled, converting them to environmentally safe products such as secondary aluminium, alloy ingots, platinum, gold, palladium and silver.