Kuala Lumpur, July 5 (RHC)-- Malaysia will send up to 3,000 tons of plastic waste back to the countries it came from, in an attempt to halt wealthier countries from dumping their used plastic under the guise of recycling.

Malaysia became the world’s main dumping ground for plastic refuse after China banned its importation last year.  The plastic is smuggled to unlicensed recycling plants from countries including the U.S., the U.K., France, Canada and Australia, and is causing environmental problems for surrounding communities.

Malaysian Minister of Energy Yeo Bee Yin said: “So, what the citizens of the U.K. believe that they send for recycling is actually dumped in our country. … Malaysians, like any other developing countries, have a right to clean air, clean water, sustainable resources and clean environment to live in, just like citizens of developed nations.”