This Is Really Where The Plastic Waste Of First World Countries End Up In When They Think They’re Recycling It

Source: https://media2.s-nbcnews.com/

Previously, China was accepting 7 metric tons of plastic waste from western countries for recycling but has since banned this in January 2018. Now, countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and most especially Malaysia have been accepting increased amounts of plastic waste from countries like the United States, UK, Australia, Finland, Belgium, Germany, France, Spain and Switzerland. 

Between January to July 2018, Malaysia alone imported 754,000 metic tons of plastic waste for recycling that was initially planned to turn into pellets which are used to make new plastic. This weight they received in six months is approximately equivalent to 100,000 large elephants. 

Most of the waste ends up in Jenjarom, a small town in Malaysia where dozens of illegal recycling plants have started to pop up. These plants burn the contaminated plastic which sends carcinogenic smoke all over the town and those that neighbor it. When the government finally shut them down, 17,000 tons of waste had been left to rot in the town.

 

Source: https://assets.nst.com.my/

Despite the country’s crackdown of 114 illegal dumping sites earlier this year, these facilities still have enormous volumes of plastic waste in their sites that are left close to bodies of water, or burnt. Burning plastic waste is a health detriment to all neighbouring communities that have given residents respiratory illnesses. 

According to “The Recycling Myth,” which is the new research released by Greenpeace Malaysia, they discovered regulation violations and illegal practices on the disposal of waste, dumping and open-air burning. These have been contributing to the massive environmental and health impact problems that Malaysians are suffering on a daily basis. 

“The Malaysian plastic recycling industry is overwhelmed by the influx and cannot accommodate the waste in a way that is sustainable and acceptable by the government’s own standards. Our investigation found evidence of harmful plastic waste processing being carried out in Klang, on the western outskirts of the capital Kuala Lumpur, and Jenjarom to the south,” Public Engagement Campaigner, Heng Kiah Chun mentioned.


Source: https://www.cyber-rt.info/

First world countries export 90% of their waste to third world countries that is more often than not, burned or dumped in the jungle. Only 9% of plastic waste is globally recycled, 12% is incinerated and the 79% stays in the environment to rot, or ends up in landfills that are already full to the brim. 

“The problem is not only a Malaysian problem. The international waste trade system itself is broken and based on false assumptions about what really happens with waste. All countries should put in place policies to reduce the use of single-use plastics to a point where waste export,  landfill or incineration is unnecessary. Malaysia and other developing countries should not be the dumping ground for plastic waste that other countries should be dealing with themselves,” Heng Kiah Chun concluded.

 

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