Plastic Health Summit 2021 - Prof. Dr. Susan Shaw

Summary

Every year, over 600 million tons of plastic waste are shipped to developing countries, where children as young as five are forced to work in toxic dump sites. These children dismantle electronics and sort waste, exposed to harmful chemicals and carcinogens. Major corporations, including ExxonMobil and Coca-Cola, drive the waste trade by overproducing plastic. The issue is a global public health crisis, with microplastics entering the food chain and threatening human health. The call for action is clear: we must eliminate waste picker jobs, end the toxic waste trade, and create a more sustainable, just system to protect vulnerable children and our planet.

Takeaways

• 😀 Over 600 million tons of plastic waste are shipped to large dump sites worldwide every year, causing severe environmental and human health impacts.
• 😀 Children as young as five are sent to hazardous dump sites in countries like Indonesia, India, and Ghana, where they work long hours to dismantle electronics and sort plastic waste.
• 😀 These children are learning to dismantle electronics with their bare hands, pulling out precious metals and harmful plastics from e-waste, rather than attending school.
• 😀 The plastic waste trade primarily involves wealthy countries exporting their waste to poorer nations under the guise of recycling, but it often results in illegal and harmful practices.
• 😀 Major petrochemical companies like ExxonMobil, Dow, and Sinopec, along with retail giants like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestlé, are responsible for producing the vast majority of plastic waste.
• 😀 The global plastic waste crisis is driving a climate crisis, with plastic production set to quadruple in the coming years, worsening pollution and carbon emissions.
• 😀 In developing countries, 90% of plastic waste is burned, releasing toxic substances like carcinogens, dioxins, and particulates into the air, which harm both the environment and human health.
• 😀 The burning of plastic waste at e-waste dumps, like Agbogbloshie in Ghana, creates a toxic environment for children, who inhale dangerous fumes without any protective gear.
• 😀 Studies show that microplastics are present in human bodies from infancy, with infants having significantly higher levels of plastic in their blood and feces than adults.
• 😀 The plastic waste crisis represents a public health and moral disaster, with children exposed to toxic chemicals at critical stages of development, leading to long-term health consequences.
• 😀 To end the cycle of exploitation and environmental destruction, a radical change in the plastic waste trade system is required, with global action needed to eliminate waste picker jobs and shift away from harmful plastic production.

Q & A

How much plastic waste is shipped to dump sites around the world each year?

Over 600 million tons of plastic waste are shipped to 50 large active dump sites around the world each year.

Why do children as young as five work at these dump sites?

Children are sent to these dump sites to work because their small hands are better suited for tasks like dismantling electronics and sorting through waste. Their families depend on their labor for survival.

What are some of the dangerous tasks that these children perform?

The children pull out wiring, extract precious metals, and sort through mountains of waste, exposing themselves to toxic chemicals and hazardous materials.

Which countries are most affected by this plastic waste trade?

Countries like Indonesia, India, Ghana, Malaysia, Thailand, and others are most affected by the global plastic waste trade.

How does the plastic waste trade affect the global environment?

The plastic waste trade not only contributes to pollution in low-income countries but also exacerbates the climate crisis by increasing carbon emissions and creating widespread toxic pollution, especially from burning plastic.

What role do petrochemical companies play in the plastic waste crisis?

Just 20 petrochemical companies, including ExxonMobil and Dow Chemical, produce more than half of all plastic waste by manufacturing the polymers used to create plastic products.

How are major consumer brands involved in this issue?

Brands like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé, and Unilever are significant contributors by using these polymers to create disposable plastic products that contribute to the plastic waste crisis.

What health risks are associated with burning plastic waste?

Burning plastic waste releases harmful chemicals such as carcinogens, dioxins, and other toxic particulates that are dangerous to human health. These chemicals can cause cancer, respiratory issues, and other long-term health problems.

How does plastic exposure affect children, especially those living in plastic waste dump sites?

Children exposed to plastic waste are at higher risk for health issues due to their developing bodies. Studies have shown that babies' feces contain significantly more microplastics than adults', indicating that exposure begins in the womb and continues to affect them throughout their lives.

What is the potential solution to this problem, according to the speaker?

The speaker calls for a radical change in the global waste trade system, ending the practice of exporting plastic waste to low-income countries, eliminating harmful waste-picking jobs, and reducing the overproduction of plastic to prevent further harm to both the environment and human health.