Plastic Health Summit 2021 - Ms. Aeshnina Azzahra Aqilani (Nina)

Summary

Nina, an advocate from Indonesia, highlights the severe environmental and health impacts of imported plastic waste in her country. She explains how waste from developed countries, such as the US and UK, is smuggled into Indonesia, contaminating rivers and soil, harming wildlife, and polluting the food chain with microplastics. Despite the efforts of her team, the situation remains dire, with plastic waste being burned and dumped irresponsibly. Nina calls on global leaders to take responsibility and stop exporting plastic waste to Indonesia, advocating for a cleaner, healthier future free from pollution.

Takeaways

• 😀 Indonesia imports over 3 million tonnes of paper waste annually, with up to 900,000 tonnes containing harmful plastic contaminants.
• 😀 Plastic waste from foreign countries is being smuggled into Indonesia, dumped, and burned in villages, causing significant environmental harm.
• 😀 The lack of waste management and separation policies in Indonesia contributes to the growing plastic waste crisis.
• 😀 Since China's 2018 ban on waste imports, Indonesia has seen a nearly 50% increase in imported paper waste.
• 😀 People in Bangun village collect recyclable plastic but burn non-recyclable plastic, releasing toxic fumes and polluting the environment.
• 😀 Burning plastic waste releases toxic dioxins, which contaminate the soil, water, and local food sources, including chicken eggs.
• 😀 Plastic recycling processes in Indonesia result in microplastic contamination in rivers, which affects aquatic life and human health.
• 😀 Microplastics are found in 80% of fish in the Brantas River, and they pose health risks to humans through consumption of contaminated fish.
• 😀 Water samples from the Brantas River show microplastic contamination, affecting drinking water for over six million people downstream.
• 😀 Nina wrote letters to U.S. Presidents Trump and Biden, urging them to stop exporting plastic waste to Indonesia, leading to a 50% decrease in U.S. exports of paper waste to the country.
• 😀 Developed countries should take responsibility for recycling their own plastic waste and stop exporting it to Indonesia, as the country lacks the capacity to manage these waste problems.

Q & A

What is the main issue highlighted in Nina's speech?

The main issue is the importation of plastic waste into Indonesia, where it is improperly disposed of, causing environmental pollution and health risks for the local population.

How does plastic waste from other countries end up in Indonesian villages?

Plastic waste is smuggled inside paper bale shipments that are imported by Indonesian paper mills, which have been importing paper waste since the 1980s to meet domestic paper industry demands.

Why does Indonesia rely on importing paper waste?

Indonesia's domestic paper waste cannot meet the demand of the paper mills due to a lack of an effective waste collection and separation system.

How has the global policy change in 2018 impacted Indonesia?

Since China banned the import of waste scrap in 2018, the amount of paper waste imported to Indonesia increased by nearly 50%, with more plastic waste being dumped and burned in villages.

What harmful effects does burning plastic waste have on the environment?

Burning plastic releases toxic gases such as dioxins, which fall onto the soil, contaminating it and impacting local wildlife, including free-range chickens that eat contaminated feed.

What is the impact of microplastics in the Brantas River?

Microplastics in the river contaminate the water and are ingested by fish, which can lead to health problems in humans who consume the fish, including hormone disorders, cancer, and birth defects.

What did Nina and her team do to address the issue?

Nina and her team, River Warrior, monitored the water quality in the Brantas River, finding microplastics in all the water samples, and raised awareness about the contamination.

What is the current waste management situation in Indonesia?

Indonesia has an inadequate waste management system, with 60% of household waste being mismanaged, and many people still dispose of waste in rivers, contributing to environmental pollution.

What actions did Nina take to reduce plastic waste imports to Indonesia?

In 2019, Nina wrote to President Donald Trump to stop exporting plastic waste to Indonesia and followed up with a letter to President Joe Biden in 2021. As a result, US plastic waste exports to Indonesia decreased by 50%.

What does Nina urge developed countries to do regarding plastic waste?

Nina urges developed countries to take responsibility for their plastic waste, stop exporting it to Indonesia, and invest in better recycling infrastructure within their own countries.