Sofia Martinez
The global trade of hard plastic waste is a complex network of trade relationships between countries. Millions of tonnes of plastic waste are traded annually, with Asia being the dominant importer and North America and Europe as the largest exporters. China was once the largest importer of plastic waste, but after its import ban, trade flows have been redirected to Southeast Asian countries. The plastic waste trade has been criticised as a form of 'waste colonialism', with developed countries exporting toxic or hazardous waste to less affluent nations, causing environmental and social injustices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Waste trade is the international trade of waste between countries for further treatment, disposal, or recycling |
| Major Sources | North America and Europe |
| Major Importers | Asia, especially China, and Southeast Asian countries |
| Issues | Toxic or hazardous wastes are exported by developed countries to developing countries |
| Global Initiatives | Global Plastics Treaty, Basel Convention, National Sword Policy |
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What You'll Learn
- Asia is the dominant importer of plastic waste
- North America and Europe are the largest sources of plastic waste
- China is the biggest player in the global plastic waste trade
- Developing countries are compelled to build disposal facilities due to import bans
- The plastic waste trade is often referred to as 'waste colonialism'
Asia is the dominant importer of plastic waste
Following China's ban, the global plastic waste trade volume decreased, but this also resulted in a surge of plastic waste entering developing countries, especially in Southeast Asia. Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, and other Asian countries and regions saw significant increases in plastic waste imports from 2016 to 2018. In 2016, Asia imported 74% of the world's plastic waste, and in 2017, 98% of the plastic waste imported was left in Asia for treatment and disposal.
The issue of plastic waste trade in Asia is complex and has been referred to as "waste colonialism," highlighting the power imbalance between economically developed countries of the Global North, which export waste, and the less affluent nations in the Global South that receive it. This dynamic perpetuates environmental and social injustice, as toxic and hazardous wastes are often exported from richer countries to weaker economies in Asia.
Some Asian countries have started to strictly limit plastic waste imports, and there are ongoing negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty to complement the Basel Convention's plastic waste trade amendments. Southeast Asian nations have also pledged to address the pollution issue, with Malaysia aiming for zero single-use plastics by 2030 and Thailand restricting electronic waste imports.
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North America and Europe are the largest sources of plastic waste
European OECD countries generate an average of 114 kg of plastic waste per person annually. Germany, for example, produces approximately 6.5 million tons of plastic waste pollution each year, with a significant portion originating from packaging materials. Despite being celebrated as a world leader in recycling, only 38% of Germany's plastic packaging waste is recycled. The United Kingdom is also a significant contributor, producing approximately 6.4 million tonnes of plastic waste per person.
The accumulation of plastic waste in North America and Europe has severe environmental consequences. Higher-income countries in these regions play a significant role in plastic pollution, with more than 1000 rivers accounting for 80% of global riverine plastic emissions into the oceans. The mismanagement of plastic waste, including the failure to recycle, incinerate, or store it properly, further exacerbates the problem.
To address the plastic waste crisis, it is essential to improve waste management strategies and reduce plastic production. Developing countries, particularly in Asia Pacific, bear the brunt of plastic waste trade, receiving toxic and hazardous waste from developed nations. The Global Plastics Treaty aims to enact stricter measures to prevent environmental injustices and protect weaker economies from the negative impacts of the plastic waste trade.
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China is the biggest player in the global plastic waste trade
China is the world's largest producer and consumer of plastics. For over two decades, China was also the dumping ground for foreign nations' trash as the world's largest importer. In 2017, the year before China's strict import ban came into effect, the country imported almost 600,000 metric tons of plastic waste. Between 2010 and 2016, China imported an average of 8 million tonnes of plastic from more than 90 nations worldwide. China is the largest importer of waste plastics, accounting for 56% of the global market. The United States, Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom are the main source countries.
The waste export trend began sometime between the 1980s and 1990s when China started to take in plastic and other scraps from less economically developed areas to use as raw materials for processing and manufacturing, and to make up for a shortage of domestic resources. It was advantageous for both Chinese businesses and the exporting countries. The former finally had access to high-quality raw materials, while the latter could take advantage of a much cheaper way of dealing with their trash. China's imports boomed after it joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, as the country's rapid industrial development led to a dramatic increase in its demand for raw materials.
In 2017, China announced an unprecedented ban on its import of most plastic waste, resulting in a sharp decline in the global plastic waste trade flow and changes in the treatment structure of countries. The ban has greatly affected recycling industries worldwide, especially in the West, as China was the largest importer of waste plastics and processed hard-to-recycle plastics for other countries. The Chinese government's decision would impact more than 676,000 metric tons of waste, worth about $278 million. While the ban will likely have a positive impact on China's environmental sustainability in the long run, it also had dramatic repercussions on countries that highly depended on China to manage their waste. Experts estimated that over 100 million metric tons of plastic waste would be displaced because of the policy by 2030.
The global plastic waste trade flows from high-income countries to low-income countries, often from the Global North to the Global South. This trade perpetuates environmental and social injustice and has been referred to as 'waste colonialism'. While China's ban will force countries to find new ways to deal with their waste and implement policies to reduce overall plastic circulation, the immediate repercussions of the policy are devastating for nations worldwide.
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Developing countries are compelled to build disposal facilities due to import bans
The global waste trade, often referred to as "waste colonialism", perpetuates environmental and social injustice. It highlights the power imbalance between economically developed countries of the Global North, which are typically the exporters of waste, and less affluent nations in the Global South that serve as recipients. The waste trade is the international trade of waste between countries for further treatment, disposal, or recycling. Since 1988, more than a quarter of a billion tonnes of plastic waste has been exported globally.
Developing countries are compelled to build disposal facilities due to the negative impacts of waste imports and the ineffectiveness of international agreements in curbing this issue. The Basel Convention, for example, aimed to regulate the dumping of hazardous waste but fell short of preventing toxic waste dumping in developing nations due to limited resources and weak enforcement. This has led to the persistence of inappropriate practices such as open dumping and burning, which have severe environmental and health consequences.
The Bamako Convention, a subsequent agreement, banned the import of all hazardous waste generated outside of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). However, similar to the Basel Convention, the Bamako Convention faced challenges in implementation due to limited resources and enforcement powers. Developing nations have also enacted regulations and sought UN assistance to manage the inflow of waste.
To address the influx of waste, developing countries need to implement stringent laws on waste disposal while building the necessary infrastructure for sustainable waste management. This includes adopting modern practices like planned landfills, safe recycling processes, and healthcare waste management. The global waste trade can be equitable, but it requires significant changes to regulations and infrastructure in both exporting and importing nations.
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The plastic waste trade is often referred to as 'waste colonialism'
The plastic waste trade is often referred to as "waste colonialism" due to the power imbalance between economically developed countries, which export waste, and the less affluent nations that receive it. This dynamic perpetuates environmental and social injustice, as the latter are often ill-equipped to handle the waste, leading to adverse impacts on health and the environment.
Waste colonialism typically involves the export of waste from higher-income countries in the Global North to lower-income countries in the Global South, such as those in Southeast Asia and Latin America. These recipient countries often have lax environmental regulations, which make them attractive destinations for waste exporters. However, this results in the externalisation of the waste problem onto these countries' communities and environments.
For instance, in 2020, Italy shipped 282 containers of mixed municipal waste to Tunisia, highlighting the abuse in the global trade of plastic waste. Similarly, after China banned waste imports in 2018, Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia became the new dumping grounds for the world's waste.
To address waste colonialism, developed nations must be held accountable for their waste management and disposal practices. The Global Plastics Treaty, currently under negotiation, aims to be a legally binding instrument to address plastic pollution through international rules for plastic design, production, and disposal. Additionally, consumers need to be mindful of their consumption behaviours to reduce the unsustainable production of plastic waste.
The plastic waste trade is a complex issue that requires global cooperation to protect vulnerable economies and the environment from the adverse effects of waste colonialism.
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Frequently asked questions
Hard plastic, along with other types of plastic, is traded globally.
North America and Europe are the largest sources of plastic waste. Top exporters include the United States, Germany, the UK, Japan, and Australia.
Asia is the dominant importer, with China being the largest importer of plastic waste. After China's import ban, plastic waste trade flows have been redirected to Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Turkey.
Global leaders are working towards an international legally binding agreement, known as the Global Plastics Treaty, to end plastic pollution and enact stricter measures on the waste trade.
