Environmental Issue - Waste of plastic dumping illegally in Malaysia
Summary
TLDRThe script investigates the fate of plastic recycling, revealing that the UK exports 665,000 tonnes annually, predominantly to Malaysia post China's import ban. Illegal plastic processing sites in Malaysia, discovered by local environmental groups, dump unwanted materials, causing environmental and health hazards. The script confronts the reality of plastic waste, implicating governments, businesses, and individuals in a global pollution crisis, urging a reevaluation of recycling practices and responsibility.
Takeaways
- 🌏 The UK is exporting a significant amount of plastic waste, with 665,000 tonnes shipped annually to various countries, primarily to Malaysia.
- 🚫 China's ban on plastic imports since 2018 has led to the UK finding alternative countries to send their plastic waste, with Malaysia being the largest recipient.
- 🏭 The influx of imported plastics has resulted in a surge of plastic processing businesses in Malaysia, many of which operate without licenses.
- 🚫 Illegal plastic processing sites have been discovered and some have been shut down after repeated reports by local environmental groups.
- 🗑️ Plastic waste that is not processed is often dumped in an illegal manner, causing environmental harm and contaminating water sources.
- 🌊 The improper disposal of plastic waste can lead to tiny particles entering water courses, potentially affecting local drinking water supplies.
- 🛍️ Evidence of UK-origin plastic waste, such as Tesco and M&S bags, was found in these illegal dumping sites, indicating the global nature of the plastic pollution problem.
- 🌳 The script highlights the call from developing nations for developed countries to stop exporting their plastic waste, as it affects local communities and environments.
- 🔥 Open burning of plastic waste is another serious concern, causing air pollution and posing health risks to nearby communities.
- 🏠 Residents living near these waste sites report suffering from respiratory problems and other health issues, believed to be linked to the pollution.
- 🤔 The script raises questions about responsibility for the plastic waste crisis, implicating local councils, governments, supermarkets, and manufacturers.
Q & A
塑料回收后通常会发生什么?
-塑料回收后通常会被收集并送往回收设施。在那里,它们会经历分类、尺寸减小(如粉碎)、清洗、聚合物分离、造粒等过程,最终被转化为再生塑料颗粒,这些颗粒可以用于制造新产品。然而,并非所有类型的塑料都能被回收,且回收效率受到多种因素影响,如塑料的类型和污染程度。
为什么塑料回收如此重要?
-塑料回收对于减少对自然资源的依赖、降低二氧化碳排放、减少垃圾填埋和焚烧产生的环境污染至关重要。此外,通过回收塑料,可以节省化石燃料的使用,并减少因塑料分解而进入食物链的潜在健康风险。
全球塑料废物的回收率是多少?
-目前全球塑料废物的回收率大约为15%,这意味着大部分塑料废物要么被填埋或焚烧,要么被不当处理或乱丢。
塑料废物对环境有哪些影响?
-塑料废物对环境的影响包括污染海洋和水道、破坏生态系统、危害野生动植物,特别是海洋生物。塑料分解需要数百年时间,期间会释放有害物质,并且微塑料颗粒可能通过食物链进入人体。
中国对塑料废物进口有何政策变化?
-自2018年起,中国实施了禁止进口塑料废物的政策,这导致全球塑料废物贸易流向其他国家,尤其是发展中国家。这一政策变化迫使其他国家寻找新的塑料废物处理方法,也促使全球塑料回收行业寻求更可持续的解决方案。
塑料回收行业面临的主要挑战是什么?
-塑料回收行业面临的挑战包括提高回收率、开发新技术以处理不同类型的塑料、确保回收塑料的质量、以及提高回收塑料的经济可行性。此外,还需要改善塑料的收集和分类系统,以及提高公众对塑料回收重要性的认识。
塑料废物回收的经济价值如何?
-塑料废物回收不仅可以减少新塑料生产所需的资本投资和碳足迹,还可以通过转化为高附加值产品来创造经济价值。例如,通过热化学转化技术如气化和热解,塑料废物可以转化为合成气或碳纳米材料等高价值产品。
塑料回收技术有哪些新进展?
-塑料回收技术的新进展包括机械回收的优化、单体回收技术的发展、以及热化学转化技术如热解和气化。此外,还有新的化学方法如微波辅助转化和光重整,以及生物降解塑料的研发,这些技术旨在提高塑料回收的效率和经济性。
如何提高塑料的回收率?
-提高塑料的回收率需要多方面的努力,包括改进塑料的设计以便于回收、实施更严格的垃圾分类法规、提高回收设施的处理能力、以及通过政策激励和公众教育来增加回收塑料的需求和使用。
塑料废物回收对化工行业有何影响?
-塑料废物回收为化工行业提供了新的商业机会,可以通过回收塑料来生产新的化学品和材料,减少对原始材料的依赖。同时,这也有助于化工行业减少环境足迹,提高其在社会中的可持续性形象。
Outlines
🌍 Global Plastic Waste Export and Its Impact
The video script begins by exploring the journey of plastic waste after it is collected for recycling. Despite efforts to recycle, it is revealed that a significant amount of plastic, totaling 665,000 tonnes annually, is exported from the UK, primarily to developing countries. The narrative focuses on Malaysia, which has become a major importer of UK plastic waste since China's ban on waste imports in 2018. The script follows the journey to a small town in Malaysia, where illegal and unregulated plastic processing activities are rampant. These activities have led to environmental degradation and health concerns for local residents, as evidenced by the discovery of unlicensed plastic processing sites and the dumping of unwanted waste.
🔍 Uncovering the Truth Behind Plastic Recycling
In the second paragraph, the script delves deeper into the reality of plastic recycling, particularly the fate of plastics that are sent abroad for processing. The narrator, with the help of local environmental activists, uncovers illegal plastic processing sites and the subsequent environmental damage. The scene shifts to an industrial area near Ipoh, Malaysia, where massive piles of unrecyclable plastic waste are found, including familiar supermarket bags and packaging from the UK. The script highlights the disconnect between the public's perception of recycling and the actual outcome, where much of the waste ends up in landfills or is burned, causing further environmental and health issues. The personal reaction of the narrator to this reality is one of embarrassment, anger, and a sense of being misled about the effectiveness of recycling efforts.
🏠 Health and Environmental Crisis from Plastic Pollution
The final paragraph of the script addresses the human cost of plastic pollution, particularly the impact on the health of local communities living near the plastic waste sites. The narrator meets with residents who describe their suffering from respiratory issues and other health problems, which they attribute to the smoke and toxins released from the open burning of plastic waste. The script captures the emotional and physical toll on these communities, emphasizing the urgent need for global responsibility and action to prevent the export of plastic waste to countries ill-equipped to handle it. The personal stories add a human dimension to the environmental crisis, calling for a reevaluation of current recycling practices and a more sustainable approach to managing plastic waste.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Recycling
💡Plastic Waste
💡Exporting
💡Environmental Action Group
💡Illegal Processing
💡Developing Nation
💡Open Burning
💡Greenpeace
💡Plastic Particles
💡Responsibility
💡Human Decency
Highlights
The UK exports 665,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually, with most previously sent to China.
China banned plastic imports in 2018 due to environmental concerns, leading to the UK finding other countries to send their waste.
Malaysia is now the largest importer of UK plastic waste, receiving 129,000 tonnes.
A small town in Malaysia, Genting, is dealing with the influx of imported plastics and the rise in illegal plastic processing businesses.
Illegal plastic processing sites in Genting have been discovered, some operating without licenses.
One site was shut down after repeated reports by a local environmental action group, highlighting the dumping of unwanted plastics.
Plastic waste from the UK, including recognizable supermarket bags, is found in these illegal processing sites.
The environmental group in Genting is advocating for the UK to stop exporting plastic waste to developing countries.
Illegal facilities are being closed, but this has led to reports of plastic waste piling up elsewhere.
An industrial area near the city of Ipoh has mountains of unrecycled plastics, indicating a failure in the recycling process.
Plastic waste from the UK, including council recycling bags, is found mixed with other plastics, suggesting it is not being recycled.
The reporter expresses feelings of embarrassment and anger upon realizing the fate of the plastics they had previously recycled.
Greenpeace Malaysia raises concerns about the health impacts of open burning of plastic waste on local communities.
Local residents in a small town near Ipoh report respiratory problems and other health issues due to smoke from burning plastic.
The reporter calls for accountability from local councils, governments, supermarkets, and manufacturers for the plastic waste crisis.
A call to action is made to stop sending plastic waste overseas and to find sustainable solutions for plastic management.
Transcripts
and even if we do manage to get the
right plastic into the right bins what
actually happens to our recycling after
it's collected by our councils
I've been digging deep into various
websites that keep a track of what we're
doing with our waste and with our
plastics and our recycling and it's
instantly obvious that we are not
dealing with our plastics at home that
six hundred and sixty-five thousand
tonnes of our plastics are being
exported every year most used to go to
China but from 2018 the Chinese banned
imports due to mounting environmental
concerns and so we found other places to
send it at the moment the UK is
exporting plastics to over a dozen
countries but the biggest number by far
importing a hundred and twenty-nine
thousand tonnes of our plastics is
Malaysia so if I want to find out what's
really happening to our recycling I'm
gonna have to go a long way from home
I'm heading for a small town called
gentium close to Malaysia's main seaport
hello
one of you is CKD hello hi I am Hugh
shall I jump in with you town resident
CK Lee is one of the founding members of
a local environmental Action Group they
formed in July last year after realizing
that an influx of imported plastics had
led to a massive increase in plastic
processing businesses not all of them
are legal and CK's offered to sneak me
into one of the 33 local sites that have
been discovered operating without
licenses this is used as the factories
dump site we believe look at this it's
awful it is awful after CK's group
repeatedly reported this site to the
authorities it was finally shut down a
few weeks ago it's clear it was used for
some sort of processing we believe that
the factory picked what they want it to
be processed and what they do not want
could he just dump it here and what they
do not want is a lot yes and its whole
mess and totally store in an illegal
manner you know without dykes and the
effluent just flow into the adjoining
lens there's a brain just yeah there's a
little string right between these two
huge piles yes and look at all these
tiny tiny particles of plastic here good
that I mean that's the kind of stuff
that could get into the water course
it's getting into the water course
because this is the water course
yes that's correct and he goes through
they don't common drink and then it
flows to the river the group soon
realized that most of the plastic in
these sites is being shipped in from
abroad I see a Tesco bag but I know
you've got Tesco over here
it's one for you you look oh dear
Paddington Bear on an M&S carry a bag
drinkaware dot co uk that's pound
sterling we're in the UK up we couldn't
be anywhere else I could put in this bag
and take back to show people in the UK
I'm interested in these big bags I'm
pretty sure that's what I am a recycling
bag run that's Wales yeah you we do like
this stuff UK being a leader in humanity
in human decency Environment Protection
please keep up with a good world but
please do damn what you do not want at
our backyard you are rich you have the
resources we are a developing nation
stop the exporting of your plastic waste
to our country I completely hear you
why should always end up here for you
guys here with let's go we're gonna go
awesome somebody's coming
I'll look out cool to say they think
someone's onto us
let's go that yeah we're coming CK we're
coming
since the authorities began closing
illegal facilities in this town they've
been increasing reports of large piles
of foreign plastics elsewhere on a
tip-off
I'm heading 250 kilometres north to an
industrial area near the city of Ipoh
we've been cross-referencing some of our
research with the Greenpeace office here
in Malaysia and they've just pinged me
some coordinates Wow look at that
what a mess it's insane
there doesn't seem to be anyone here at
least for the moment
it's like some dystopian nightmare it
looks like another planet it's like a
plastic planet left exposed to Sun and
rain these mountains of broken bails and
mixed plastics are clearly never going
to be recycled and it's only moments
before I start finding things that are
all too familiar
Sainsbury's Sainsbury's Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's Sainsbury's Sainsbury's and
Sainsbury's guys you really shouldn't
make your bags bright orange you're
making it too easy for me
Braintree district council Essex is
finest and it's not just Essex we've got
Milton Keynes here
we don't want unrecyclable rubbish I
mean the whole thing is just nuts isn't
it
[Music]
something really sticks out those
utterly but early it's the other side of
this horrendous trench that's pretty
familiar celebrations Milky Way M&S some
cleaning product from Aldi I've got
Sainsbury's I've got M&S I've got Astor
I've got Aldi this bale of plastics may
not be related to the council bags I
found but it is mainly made up of the
pots tubs and trays that most UK
councils tell us they are recycling look
at the size of this site and what sort
of chain is it in what's the destiny of
this bale when we put this in our
recycling back in the UK we think we're
doing the right thing I do my recycling
and I feel good about it at least I used
to
what do you think I don't feel so good
now I feel embarrassed I feel ashamed I
feel angry I feel I've been lied to and
I really want to know who's responsible
for this horrendous mess is that our
local councils is it our government is
it our supermarkets is it the
manufacturers of these goods they're all
in it together we're all part of this
problem and now we have to stop take a
long hard look at this stuff take a long
hard look at this and work out the right
way to do things stop sending our
plastic garbage thousands of miles over
the sea
I'll take all this up with government
and big business back in the UK but
aside from vast piles like this there's
a whole different problem foreign
plastics are adding to Greenpeace
Malaysia's hen kitchen tells me about
another grave concern this is plastic
going up in smoke here you can see all
the busts er here that's horrendous and
this is just one looks really toxeus one
pot and I can see we have many paths
there are many open beneath this is
normal just to see this plastic open
burning yeah we also receives like some
complaints by the local community that
they also suffer from the audio sight
respiratory problems a lot of families
in this small town are convinced that
their health is being affected by the
smoke from this open burning I've come
to meet one of them hello I'm Hugh are
you can I come in
goodness me hello everybody hello
oh what a gathering who would like to
speak a little bit about the experience
you've been having here it's really some
looking she's idea couldn't someone
where it's a dead title man something
that went down into the church into that
we found associate into internal without
me Jewish that took a choose to took
away downloader how is this affecting
your family how how is it for you it's
intangible castle Maharaja sang cameo to
son now Chintan G Angela just how do you
like how they are unite of Simeon to the
true the so had to make a cell social
you know it beats that are you feeling
well today
no why not what happens because my not
breathing my eyes eat sister is now me
oh my god
that's you how did you feel when you
have this
sad when was this
this morning how many times has this
happened in the last jerilyn and four
pence jung-bae Castle took a call in
Mombasa Josue Bustamante your chances of
such a person
I'm sorry
that was very intense and compelling and
the extra dimension that the substance
that you think is harming your child is
being sent across thousands of miles by
other countries who don't even know
what's happening to it when it gets here
just makes it so much worse
[Music]
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