Maya Ellison
The plastic waste trade is a pressing global issue that has severe implications for environmental health, social well-being, and economic development. Since 1988, over 250 million tonnes of plastic waste have been exported worldwide, with developed countries often exporting toxic or hazardous waste to less affluent nations. This trade dynamic, referred to as 'waste colonialism', perpetuates environmental and social injustice. To address this crisis, various organisations and countries are advocating for stricter regulations, such as revisions to the European Union's Waste Shipment Regulation and amendments to the Basel Convention. China's decision to ban plastic waste imports in 2018 significantly disrupted the global plastic waste system, leading to a decline in the volume of plastic waste traded. However, other countries, mainly in Asia, have since become major importers of plastic waste. While international cooperation and trade agreements are crucial in tackling this issue, the ultimate solution lies in reducing plastic production and holding corporations accountable for their role in the waste trade.
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What You'll Learn
Ban plastic-waste exports to non-EU countries
The plastic waste trade is a symptom of plastic overproduction, allowing high-income, high-consumption countries to avoid the environmental and social consequences of their plastic problem. The trade fuels organised crime, human rights violations, and environmental destruction, with millions of tonnes of waste dumped in countries ill-equipped to manage it.
The European Union has been working towards an international legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution, with the Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR) undergoing review. In November 2023, the EU agreed to ban exports of plastic waste to non-OECD countries, which is a significant step. However, the ban is not total, and there are concerns that it does not include hazardous and mixed plastic waste, nor does it solve the issue of illegal waste flow.
The EU's ban on plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries is a welcome development, but it is essential to address remaining concerns. The ban should be comprehensive, including all types of plastic waste, especially hazardous and mixed plastic waste, to ensure that the environmental and social impacts are minimised. Stringent measures and enforcement are necessary to prevent illegal waste flow and dumping in low-wage countries.
To effectively tackle the plastic waste trade, the EU should also focus on reducing plastic consumption and promoting corporate accountability. Norway's proposed modification to the Basel Convention, which includes plastic waste in its scope, is a positive step towards increasing transparency and preventing the mismanagement of plastic waste. Additionally, the EU's adoption of laws reducing single-use plastics and making manufacturers responsible for waste management is a step in the right direction.
While the ban on plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries is a step forward, a comprehensive approach is needed. This includes addressing overproduction, reducing consumption, holding corporations accountable, and ensuring stringent regulations and enforcement to prevent illegal dumping and protect vulnerable countries from the harmful impacts of the plastic waste trade.
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Reduce plastic consumption in high-income countries
High-income countries have played a significant role in plastic pollution, particularly in terms of accumulated stocks of plastics in the ocean. These countries have the capacity to reduce their plastic consumption and deal with their plastic waste more effectively, rather than dumping it on lower-income countries.
One way to reduce plastic consumption in high-income countries is to ban single-use plastics. In recent years, dozens of national and local governments have adopted policies to prohibit the use of disposable plastic, and this number continues to grow. Africa, for example, has distinguished itself as the continent with the most countries adopting a total ban on plastic bags. High-income countries can follow suit and implement similar bans on single-use plastics, such as water bottles, milk bottles, freezer bags, food packaging, and potato chip bags.
High-income countries can also incentivize the use of sustainable alternatives. For instance, consumers can be encouraged to bring their own coffee mugs or use reusable water bottles instead of single-use plastic ones. Restaurants and food establishments can be urged to stop using plastic straws and switch to paper or metal alternatives. Governments can play a role by offering tax incentives or subsidies for businesses that adopt sustainable practices and reduce their plastic consumption.
Public awareness campaigns can also play a crucial role in reducing plastic consumption. Governments and environmental organizations can educate the public about the impact of plastic pollution on the environment and promote sustainable alternatives. They can also encourage consumers to pressure local authorities to improve waste management practices and reduce plastic waste.
Additionally, high-income countries can invest in improving their waste management infrastructure to ensure proper disposal and recycling of plastics. This includes investing in technology for recycling and promoting a circular economy for plastics. By improving their waste management practices, high-income countries can reduce their reliance on exporting plastic waste to other nations.
Finally, high-income countries can support the negotiation of a legally binding global treaty on plastic pollution. This treaty should include specific rules and regulations for the entire plastic life cycle, targeting high-risk plastic products and single-use plastics. By engaging in global efforts to reduce plastic pollution, high-income countries can contribute to a more sustainable future.
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Implement stringent measures for intra-EU trade
The plastic waste trade is a complex issue that has severe implications for the environment and human health. While most plastic waste is handled domestically, the trade of plastic waste across borders has led to significant problems, especially in developing countries. The European Union (EU), as the world's largest exporter and importer of plastic waste, has a crucial role to play in addressing this issue.
To tackle the plastic waste trade within the EU, stringent measures need to be implemented as part of the Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR). The WSR is the primary legislation that governs the trade of plastic waste in and out of the EU. Here are some key steps that can be taken to strengthen the WSR and address intra-EU trade:
- Ban plastic-waste exports to non-EU countries: One of the critical steps is to prohibit the export of plastic waste from EU countries to non-EU nations. This would mean that EU countries would need to manage their plastic waste within their borders or collaborate with other EU countries to find sustainable solutions. This ban should include exceptions for countries in the European Free Trade Area that are party to the UN Basel Convention.
- Strengthen intra-EU trade regulations: While banning exports to non-EU countries is essential, it is also crucial to tighten regulations within the EU. This includes establishing robust standards for plastic waste management, recycling, and disposal. EU countries should be encouraged to work together to develop common standards and best practices to promote circularity and sustainability.
- Close legal and enforcement gaps: Criminal activities and illegal operations thrive due to regulatory gaps and loopholes. It is essential to work closely with law enforcement agencies and address these gaps. This includes improving compliance, tracking plastic waste flows, and exposing illegal practices and syndicates involved in the plastic waste trade.
- Promote circular economy principles: The EU should actively promote a shift towards a circular economy for plastics. This involves reducing plastic production, increasing recycling capacities within the EU, and encouraging the reuse and recycling of plastic waste. EU countries can collaborate to develop more robust and circular systems for plastic management, attracting investment in recycling technologies and creating economic gains.
- Extend producer responsibility: Trade agreements within the EU can be leveraged to extend producer responsibility schemes. This means clearly demarcating the responsibilities of importers and exporters regarding the waste they generate. By holding corporations accountable for the entire lifecycle of their plastic products, there is an incentive to reduce plastic consumption and improve waste management practices.
By implementing these stringent measures for intra-EU trade, the EU can significantly contribute to addressing the plastic waste trade crisis. These steps will help reduce the environmental and social impacts of plastic waste, protect developing countries from becoming dumping grounds, and foster sustainable practices within the EU.
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Improve compliance and enforcement of the Basel Convention
The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal was adopted in 1989 and entered into force in 1992. It establishes a "notice and consent" regime, also known as prior informed consent (PIC), for the export of hazardous and certain other wastes to importing countries. The convention's provisions generally prohibit the trade of such wastes without the importing country's written consent or when the exporting country has reason to believe that the wastes will not be handled in an environmentally sound manner. As of 2025, there are 188 parties to the convention, including the United States, which signed it in 1990 and provided its advice and consent to ratification in 1992.
However, the United States has not ratified the convention due to insufficient domestic statutory authority to implement all its provisions. Instead, the country participates as an observer in the Conferences of the Parties and technical working groups. In 2019, amendments were made to the convention's annexes, subjecting most plastic waste exports to the PIC procedure starting in 2021. The convention's non-party trade restrictions prohibit parties from trading in covered waste and scrap subject to PIC with non-parties, except under Article 11, which allows for agreements or arrangements that enable Basel Parties to trade with non-parties while upholding the convention's requirements for environmentally sound management.
To improve compliance and enforcement of the Basel Convention, several actions can be taken:
- Track plastic waste flows between countries and identify hotspots for improper disposal. This data can be used to target investigations and expose illegal trade practices, pathways, and syndicates.
- Promote transparency and accountability by ensuring that exporters of plastic waste obtain prior informed consent from recipient countries. This small but vital modification to the treaty would help prevent the mismanagement of plastic waste and stop most countries from accepting scrap plastic from non-party countries.
- Address regulatory gaps and legal loopholes that are exploited by criminals involved in the global plastic waste trade. For example, the EIA's investigation revealed scams involving the UK's Extended Producer Responsibility scheme and discarded wheelie bins.
- Strengthen law enforcement efforts to curb illegal trade and hold accountable corporations that profit from this waste trade. This includes exposing practices, pathways, and syndicates involved in the illegal trade.
- Advocate for revisions to regional regulations, such as the European Union's Waste Shipment Regulation, to ban plastic waste exports to non-EU countries and introduce stringent measures for intra-EU trade. As one of the wealthiest regions in the world, the EU has a responsibility to manage its waste within its borders.
- Encourage high-income, high-consuming countries to focus on reducing plastic consumption and production rather than exporting their waste to other countries. This shift in perspective is crucial in addressing the root cause of the plastic waste trade problem.
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Develop common standards for goods and services critical to circularity
The plastic waste trade is a critical issue that needs to be addressed to protect the environment and communities, particularly in developing nations. One key strategy to tackle this problem is to develop common standards for goods and services that promote circularity and reduce plastic waste. Here are some paragraphs elaborating on this strategy:
Circular economy principles offer a promising approach to addressing the plastic waste crisis. This concept focuses on maximizing the value of products and materials, especially those that often end up in landfills or waterways. Instead of the linear "take-make-dispose" model, a circular economy aims to keep resources in use for as long as possible, minimizing waste and maximizing resource value. This involves reusing, repairing, disassembling, and remanufacturing products and materials.
In the context of plastic waste, a circular economy encourages the reuse, recycling, and repurposing of plastic items. It also promotes the use of recyclable materials and focuses on material recovery to minimize waste and reduce carbon emissions. For example, regulatory frameworks can be implemented to support a circular economy, such as extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies. EPR holds manufacturers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products, including post-consumer waste, encouraging the use of recyclable materials and minimizing waste.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a prominent organization in this space, works with businesses, academics, policymakers, and institutions to promote the idea of a circular economy for plastics. They aim to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, unlocking investment, stimulating innovation, simplifying supply chains, and reducing waste management costs for governments. Over 280 businesses have joined the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, advocating for ambitious and actionable treaties to phase out problematic plastics and promote sustainable virgin plastic production.
Additionally, the automotive industry is witnessing a profound shift towards circularity. For instance, Renault leases batteries for electric cars and takes them back for reengineering. Michelin, a tire manufacturer, collects used tires from its fleets, regrooves them, and resells them, requiring only half the raw materials of new tires while delivering 90% performance. These examples demonstrate the potential for innovative solutions within a circular economy framework.
Developing common standards that align with circular economy principles can help address the plastic waste trade issue. These standards should encourage the reuse, recycling, and repurposing of plastic goods and promote the use of recyclable materials in the production of goods and services. Extended producer responsibility policies can be a key part of these standards, holding manufacturers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products and minimizing plastic waste. By implementing such standards, we can reduce the environmental and social impacts of the plastic waste trade and work towards a more sustainable future.
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Frequently asked questions
The plastic waste trade is the international trade of plastic waste between countries for further treatment, disposal, or recycling.
The plastic waste trade fuels organized crime, human rights violations, and environmental destruction, with millions of tonnes of waste dumped in countries ill-equipped to manage it. It perpetuates environmental and social injustice, with harmful effects on environmental health, social well-being, and economic development.
International cooperation is crucial in solving the plastic waste trade problem. The Basel Convention on Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal aims to control the movement of hazardous waste, including plastic waste, between countries. Stringent controls and revisions to existing regulations, such as the European Union's Waste Shipment Regulation, are necessary to protect weaker economies from the influx of plastic waste.
To reduce the impact of the plastic waste trade, it is essential to minimize plastic consumption and production. Countries should focus on reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic waste within their borders. Trade agreements can facilitate the development of circular economies, promoting sustainable alternatives and proper waste management systems.
