Why The World Sends Its Plastic Trash To Malaysia - Cheddar Explores

Summary

The video discusses the global plastic waste crisis, focusing on how only 9% of plastic is recycled and how much of it is exported to Asia. China, once a major importer of plastic waste, banned imports in 2017, creating a recycling crisis in the U.S. and other developed nations. The waste is now sent to Southeast Asian countries, overwhelming them and causing environmental damage. Experts call for a rethinking of plastic production and recycling systems, urging developed nations to take responsibility for their waste instead of exporting it.

Takeaways

• 🚮 The US discards around 180 pounds of plastic per person annually, with only 9% being recycled.
• 🌏 Half of the recycled plastic is processed domestically, while the rest was traditionally sent to Asia.
• 📉 China's policy change on December 31, 2017, to stop accepting 24 categories of recyclable waste disrupted the global recycling system.
• 📈 Southeast Asian nations, like Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand, became major importers of plastic waste after China's ban.
• 🗑️ Malaysia mismanaged 55% of its own plastic waste, leading to environmental issues and health concerns.
• 🔥 Illegal factories in countries like Malaysia burn non-recyclable waste, releasing toxic chemicals and causing health problems for residents.
• 🚨 The Malaysian government has been cracking down on illegal waste processing facilities, but the problem persists.
• 🔄 Malaysia's environmental minister announced the return of 150 containers of plastic waste to their countries of origin as of January 2020.
• 🌍 The Basel Convention, a treaty regulating the movement of hazardous wastes, is being considered to include plastic scrap to prevent waste dumping.
• 🔄 The recycling crisis has prompted calls for a fundamental rethink of plastic production and packaging to reduce waste.

Q & A

How much plastic waste does the average person generate annually?

The average person generates around 180 pounds of plastic waste per year.

What percentage of plastic waste is typically recycled?

Only 9% of the plastic waste generated is recycled.

Why was China a major destination for plastic waste from the U.S.?

China was a major destination for plastic waste because it was cheaper to recycle there than domestically, and China's booming manufacturing sector had a high demand for recycled materials.

What event in 2017 disrupted the global recycling system?

China closed its borders to 24 categories of recyclable waste on December 31st, 2017, which disrupted the global recycling system.

How did high-income countries respond to China's ban on recyclable waste?

In response to China's ban, high-income countries like the U.S., Europe, and Japan began distributing plastic waste to a wider net of poor countries, particularly in Southeast Asia.

What was the impact of increased plastic waste imports on Southeast Asian countries?

The increase in waste imports left countries like Malaysia scrambling and overwhelmed, mishandling a significant portion of their own plastic waste and struggling with illegal factories burning non-recyclable waste.

What are the environmental and health consequences of mismanaged plastic waste in countries like Malaysia?

Mismanaged plastic waste leads to water and soil pollution, air pollution from illegal burning of waste, and health issues such as rashes and violent coughing attacks among residents.

What action has the Malaysian government taken regarding plastic waste imports?

The Malaysian government has been cracking down on illegal factories and has sent back plastic shipping containers to their countries of origin, starting from January 2020.

What is the Basel Convention and how does it relate to plastic waste?

The Basel Convention is a 1992 treaty that regulates the movement of hazardous wastes between countries, designed to prevent developed countries from sending their waste to less developed countries. Plastic waste is not currently on the list of materials covered by the convention.

What long-term solutions are being proposed to address the plastic waste crisis?

Long-term solutions include reinvesting in domestic recycling, implementing further anti-plastic legislation, and fundamentally rethinking plastic packaging and production to ensure it can be recycled or eliminated.

How does the recycling crisis affect the responsibility of high-income nations regarding plastic waste?

The recycling crisis highlights the need for high-income nations to take responsibility for their own waste, ensuring it is managed properly and not simply exported to other countries.