Alexei Volkov
The plastic waste export trade is dominated by rich countries sending their trash to poorer nations that lack the infrastructure or policies to process it properly. In 2017, China and Hong Kong imported 7.7 million tonnes of plastic waste, but in 2018, China banned most plastic waste imports, dramatically altering the market. Since then, other developing nations, including African and Asian countries, have become the primary recipients of plastic waste exports from wealthy countries like the US, Canada, Japan, and those in Western Europe. This practice allows exporting countries to maintain a lower carbon footprint and portray themselves as progressing towards net-zero goals, while the environmental and ethical consequences are offloaded to the receiving countries, contributing to ocean pollution, toxic emissions, and millions of premature deaths worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Why countries export plastic waste | Countries export plastic waste because they can’t, or don’t want to, deal with the level of trash they’re facing. It is often cheaper and easier to pay other nations to handle the waste. |
| Who exports plastic waste | Highly-developed countries like the US, Japan, Canada, Germany, and European countries are major exporters of plastic waste. |
| Who imports plastic waste | Less-developed countries with poor waste management infrastructure like China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Turkey, and African countries like Angola and Ethiopia. |
| Environmental impact | Mismanaged waste exports contribute to ocean pollution, air pollution, and toxic emissions from improper disposal practices like illegal dumping and burning of plastic waste. |
| Global initiatives | In May 2019, 187 countries decided to restrict international trade in plastic scrap under the Basel Convention to address the improper disposal of plastic waste. |
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What You'll Learn
Why do countries export plastic waste?
Countries export plastic waste because they are unable or unwilling to deal with the volume of trash they generate. It is often cheaper and more convenient to pay other nations to handle waste, especially if the exchange rate is favourable. Wealthy nations can maintain a low carbon footprint and appear to be making progress towards net-zero targets by passing the responsibility for waste disposal to other countries.
However, this strategy has severe environmental and health consequences. The plastic export trade often involves rich countries sending their trash to poorer nations that lack the infrastructure or policies to process it properly. As a result, plastic waste is often dumped into large, unregulated landfills, where it releases toxins into the surrounding area as it breaks down. Burning plastic waste, another common method of disposal, releases toxic chemicals into the air and contributes to climate change. Ocean plastic also has devastating impacts on marine ecosystems and can increase the risk of cancer and lung disease in humans who consume affected fish.
China previously dominated the market for plastic waste imports, receiving 72.4% of all plastic waste worldwide. However, in 2018, China banned most plastic waste imports, causing a shift in the market. Some developing nations, such as Angola, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan, have since increased their plastic waste imports, while other countries like Turkey and Vietnam have significantly increased their already sizable intake.
Recycling companies in exporting countries have been accused of deliberately displacing their waste problems onto other countries by shipping plastic waste to nations with looser standards and regulations. However, as more countries implement bans on plastic waste imports, exporting countries are facing the challenge of having to take responsibility for their own waste.
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Which countries export the most plastic waste?
The plastic waste exports market is dominated by wealthy, developed nations exporting to less wealthy, developing nations. The top 10 countries export more than 4.4 million tonnes of plastic waste per year, representing 71% of all plastic waste exports.
Germany was the world's largest plastic waste exporter in 2023, with shipments totaling over 693,000 metric tons. However, Germany has reduced its plastic waste exports by 6% in recent years. The United States is another of the world's top three exporters, producing 34.02 million tons of plastic waste in 2016, but it too has reduced exports by 28%.
Other countries have increased their exports in recent years, including Japan (by 7%), Canada (by 10%), and the Netherlands (by 69% in the last four years). Japan was the world's second-largest plastic waste exporter in 2020, with 821 million kilograms shipped.
The countries receiving the most plastic waste include Malaysia, Turkey, and Vietnam. These countries often lack the infrastructure and resources to handle the waste effectively, leading to ocean pollution, toxic emissions, and illegal dumping.
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Which countries import plastic waste?
For decades, wealthy nations have transported plastic waste to poorer countries. While the plastic waste trade is complex, it is largely driven by the fact that it is often easier and cheaper for countries to pay other nations to handle their trash, especially if the exchange rate is favourable. As a result, the plastic export trade is full of rich countries sending their trash to nations that don't have the infrastructure or policies in place to process them properly.
China dominated the market for three decades, importing 72.4% of all plastic waste worldwide. In 2017, China and Hong Kong imported a combined 7.7 million tonnes, but in 2018, China banned most plastic waste imports, dramatically altering the market. Following China's ban, other countries emerged to take its place as major importers. Most of them are also countries in Asia, including Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Turkey. In 2019, India, one of the major importers of plastic waste, also planned to implement a similar ban.
Some developing nations went from accepting negligible amounts of plastic waste in 2017 to thousands of tonnes in 2023, including African countries like Angola and Ethiopia, and Asian nations like Myanmar, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan. Wealthier countries have also upped their imports, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Czechia, the US, and Denmark. However, the burden has mainly fallen on relatively poorer nations.
While the plastic waste trade has contributed to environmental problems in lower-income countries, a study published in the Journal of World Systems Research found a potential bright side to this seemingly unequal trade. The study found that the import of plastic waste was associated with growth in gross domestic product per capita in lower-income countries. The authors of the study noted that it is likely that lower-income countries are recycling some of the plastic for use in industry and manufacturing.
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How does exporting plastic waste harm the environment?
Exporting plastic waste harms the environment in several ways. Firstly, it often involves shipping waste to countries with poor waste management practices, such as China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. These countries may lack the infrastructure and regulations to effectively and sustainably sort, process, and recycle plastic waste, leading to improper disposal methods such as dumping and burning. Burning plastic waste releases toxic chemicals and pollutants into the air, contributing to air pollution and exposing nearby communities to harmful chemicals, which can cause various health issues, including cancer and lung disease.
Secondly, the export of plastic waste allows wealthier nations to maintain a low carbon footprint and plastic footprint while passing the responsibility for dumping or burning plastic waste to other countries. This practice, known as "waste colonialism," highlights the power imbalance between economically developed countries and the less affluent nations that receive the waste. By exporting their waste, wealthy nations can avoid dealing with their trash and maintain the impression of progress towards net-zero targets without addressing their plastic consumption or disposal infrastructure.
Thirdly, the open trade of plastic waste contributes to marine plastic pollution. When plastic waste is not properly managed or recycled, it can end up in oceans and waterways, severely impacting marine ecosystems. Ocean plastic can be consumed by fish, and when humans eat these fish, they are at an increased risk of developing various health conditions.
Finally, the export of plastic waste can lead to social harm in the importing countries. For example, the documentary "Plastic China" exposed the environmental and social harm caused by plastic waste imported by China, which contributed to China's decision to implement stricter regulations on plastic waste imports. The increase in plastic waste shipments to other countries has also disrupted local recycling economies, with recyclers focusing on easily available imported plastics rather than developing domestic waste collection systems.
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What international agreements govern the trade of plastic waste?
The Basel Convention, which came into force on January 1, 2021, is a significant international agreement that governs the trade of plastic waste. The convention aims to address the improper disposal of plastic waste and reduce its leakage into the environment. Under the Basel Convention, transboundary shipments of most plastic scrap and waste are now controlled and regulated. This includes shipments of contaminated, mixed, or non-hazardous plastic waste. The convention requires prior written consent from the importing country and any transit countries before allowing the shipment of plastic waste.
Another relevant agreement is the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Council Decision on Transboundary Movements of Waste Destined for Recovery Operations. The United States has bilateral and multilateral agreements with several countries under this decision. However, the requirements for transboundary movements of non-hazardous plastic waste vary among OECD countries, and some may not allow trade with the United States under the existing agreement.
The Stockholm Convention and MARPOL are also mentioned as international agreements that can address specific aspects of plastic pollution, such as the toxicity of chemicals found in plastics and the disposal of waste from ships, respectively.
In addition to these international agreements, there are ongoing efforts to develop a Global Plastics Treaty. The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) resolution of March 2, 2022, titled "End Plastic Pollution: Towards an International Legally Binding Instrument," initiated a series of Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) meetings to work towards a comprehensive treaty addressing plastic pollution.
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Frequently asked questions
Wealthier, highly-developed countries like the US, Japan, and several European countries are the major exporters of plastic waste.
Developing nations like Vietnam, Malaysia, Turkey, and India are among the major importers of plastic waste.
Countries export plastic waste because they don't want to deal with the level of trash they're facing. It's often easier and cheaper to pay other nations to handle the waste, especially if the exchange rate is favorable.
Exported plastic waste often ends up in countries that lack the infrastructure and regulations to process it properly. This leads to ocean pollution, toxic emissions from improper disposal practices, and millions of premature deaths worldwide.
