DOE EMPHASISES REFRIGERANT MANAGEMENT, MONITORS E-WASTE AND GAS EMISSIONS

KOTA BHARU, Dec 11 (Bernama) -- The Kelantan Department of Environment (DOE) is emphasising the management of air-conditioning substances or refrigerants as an important component in efforts to control gas emissions that harm the ozone layer.

Its director, Wan Aminordin Wan Kamaruddin, said that throughout the week-long operation from Dec 7 to 11, the DOE also carried out inspections on workshops involved in refrigerant management, which were subject to regulations on ozone gas emissions.

He said the inspections were crucial to ensure that the handling of refrigerants was done according to established standards, thus preventing uncontrolled releases that could affect air quality.

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“So far there have been no significant violations, but on-site instructions were issued to improve certain aspects such as labelling. This did not involve the issuance of notices,” he said during the integrated operation ‘Ops Gerak’ conducted in conjunction with World Ozone Day 2025 here tonight.

Commenting on tonight’s operation, Wan Aminordin said it marked the final day of Ops Gerak, involving about 50 personnel from four agencies, with a focus on vehicle smoke emissions and excessive motorcycle noise.

“Throughout this week, the integrated Ops Gerak focused on vehicle emissions and motorcycle noise. Besides vehicle operations, the DOE also conducted petrol and diesel sampling at several selected petrol stations to test sulphur content and other substances in accordance with the Environmental Quality (Control of Petrol and Diesel Content) Regulations 2007,” he said.

He said inspections were also carried out on fleet operators managing more than 10 vehicles to ensure they had sufficient equipment to test smoke emissions under the Environmental Quality (Control of Emissions from Diesel Engines) Regulations 1996.

According to him, compliance levels were good and there were no significant violations.

Meanwhile, Wan Aminordin said the DOE also collaborated with the General Operations Force in monitoring factories that failed to comply with electronic waste management requirements.

“In Kelantan, four licensed companies have been identified to collect and partially dismantle e-waste, while valuable materials are sent out. Most recycling centres comply with licensing requirements and are not allowed to store e-waste without permission, with action enforceable under the Environmental Quality Act 1974,” he said.

-- BERNAMA