Malaysia is sending back 150 shipping containers of illegally imported garbage from the countries that sent it over including France, the UK, the United States, Canada and others.

"The Malaysian government is serious about combating the import of illegal wastes as we do not want to be the garbage bin of the world," said Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin during a media event that showed off the intercepted crap from other countries.

Malaysia has emerged as a major target of illegal waste trafficking since 2018 when China banned incoming plastic waste in a bid to clean up its garbage problem.  It means that Malaysian customs inspectors have had to keep a close watch on cargo containers for the stinky contraband.

"To date, the ministry, through the Department of Environment (DOE) has repatriated 150 containers, with approximately 3,737 metric tonnes of plastic wastes that were illegally brought into Malaysia," Ms. Yeo said.  "The repatriation exercise does not have any cost implication to the government.  The costs were either borne by the exporters or by the shipping liners.  This is an unprecedented move by Malaysia."

Of the 150 cargo containers, 43 were sent back to France and 42 went to the UK; the US will receive 17 and Canada gets back eleven.