IPOH, July 17 -- The Housing and Local Government Ministry is looking to tap the mountains of plastic trash in the country as an alternative fuel and source for producing cement, Zuraida Kamaruddin said today.

The minister said the technology known as processed engineered fuel (PEF) could help the government cut down the illegal plastic garbage pile nationwide.

She added that currently there is only one known company in the country using PEF.

"The ResourceCo Asia (M) Sdn Bhd in Chemor has been using local plastic waste and imported dry materials such as plastic, papers, clothes and wood to process into PEF.

"We believe this mechanism will help us to clear all illegal plastic companies and dumpsites in the country, as there is no other...