Perhaps out of desperation UK is trying to divert the plastic waste originally dump at China to ASEAN. the rationale is simple, cost.
Although UK recycling rate is above Europe average but there is still lack of capacity to recycle the plastic waste. It is a very good business prospect for UK recycling business since there's no problem getting the inputs materials.
UK is under pressure from its own environmental and Sustainable Development Goals commitment to create a more sustainable environment for the Brits but UK failed to understand that whether it is China or ASEAN the plastic waste dumped is still within the very same earth and if it don't get treated proper it will affect us all.
If developed nation like UK don't have the capacity enough to treat those waste what make UK think ASEAN have?
It will be simply end up as open dump garbage or build up at the one of the 5 garbage gyres.
Although UK recycling rate is above Europe average but there is still lack of capacity to recycle the plastic waste. It is a very good business prospect for UK recycling business since there's no problem getting the inputs materials.
UK is under pressure from its own environmental and Sustainable Development Goals commitment to create a more sustainable environment for the Brits but UK failed to understand that whether it is China or ASEAN the plastic waste dumped is still within the very same earth and if it don't get treated proper it will affect us all.
If developed nation like UK don't have the capacity enough to treat those waste what make UK think ASEAN have?
It will be simply end up as open dump garbage or build up at the one of the 5 garbage gyres.
China ban 'foreign garbage' is not without reason. China top the list of plastic pollution to ocean with 3.53 million metric tons of their own plastic waste could be found surviving the digestion in ocean. A nation with 8.8 million metric tons of plastic waste mismanaged must have already felt its own karma and thus putting end to more foreign garbage when economy allow.
While UK is trying to get rid of the plastic waste from the country and make it look as clean and beautiful as the Brits may think but in reality it cause more damage than good. Because recognize the facts that none of the country have capacity to treat these waste shipping it thousands of nautical miles will only emit more carbon footprint.
Greenhouse gas emission don't stop there. ASEAN is located at the equator which rainforest that supply 40% of oxygen. This 6% of rainforest will make way for landfill when the current landfill reach it full capacity (for Malaysia is already 85%). Thus, export to ASEAN will result deforestation and carbon emissions from dead trees will further worsen the matter. That is just carbon emissions alone there are numerous negative side effects from deforestation such as water security problem, landslide and loss of biodiversity. All these are irreversible.
I belief everyone should try to resolve their own problem instead of pushing it to others simply because having greater economy power. Remember the monetary system is created by human, not nature. Nature don't bound by our financial system.
A close loop system would be ideal but I'm not daydreaming of the utopia to achieve overnight. A stronger economy UK will have greater demand for green products and thus recycling domestically will eliminate the cost (and carbon footprint) of these green products. Recycling domestically also eliminate the risk of the plastic waste accidentally sink into the ocean during the freight. The government should find ways to make economy sense to offset the high labour cost and land cost for this.
Nevertheless, I would encourage UK to set up recycling facility for the plastic waste export here. There's no reason for ASEAN to reject UK if there's enough recycling capacity in ASEAN. We crave for technology transfer and we offer you cheap labour, cheap land and relax regulatory requirements. This mutual benefit has been very sought after for long since ASEAN is desperately to find ways solving our own same problems too.
I see great mutual benefit between Malaysia and UK. Malaysia have world strongest state sovereign fund company, Khazanah, that can invest in UK recycling facility. It is a very promising business prospect with tangible and predictable stability in UK recycling industry. However, I'm not in position have a say on the matter. The most I can do is shoot a letter to Tun Mahathir, the Chairman of Khazanah (also Malaysia Prime Minister).
I, Tay Kian Guan, a citizen of Malaysia, would like to enquire; would UK increase the recycling capacity in Malaysia in tandem with the plastic waste export? Because otherwise it is nonsensical and an act of greenwashing detrimental to our health and environment.
The scene occur partly due to China banned any "foreign garbage" import on 31st December 2017, inducing UK to divert the export of plastic waste to ASEAN countries such as Thailand, Vietnam& Malaysia. This is simply passing the problem from one to another (within the same earth) without considering the health and environmental impact.
If the ban of 'foreign garbage' by China is only part of the problem so what is the main problem? I belief the main problem are;
1. Consumer behaviour (Environmental consciousness in making purchasing decision and consumption pattern to reduce waste thus trigger supplier's economy correspondence).
If the ban of 'foreign garbage' by China is only part of the problem so what is the main problem? I belief the main problem are;
1. Consumer behaviour (Environmental consciousness in making purchasing decision and consumption pattern to reduce waste thus trigger supplier's economy correspondence).
2. Low recyclability products. UK should focus on how to encourage design of products, packaging, incentives strategy and industry standard toward recycling & biodegradable products.
3. Waste treatment overcapacity. UK need to focus on building capacity to treat own garbage and invest in R&D for new technology that are more efficient and produce more economically competitive recycled products.
3. Waste treatment overcapacity. UK need to focus on building capacity to treat own garbage and invest in R&D for new technology that are more efficient and produce more economically competitive recycled products.
4. Regulatory framework. UK may need some political will to push forward a bolder step in either ban plastic packaging or arrange in a way economical for recycling business to thrive.
Shipping garbage itself contributed to carbon emission and climate change. With estimate 8997nautical miles (16,662km) between UK and Malaysia by sea route and average emission of 40g CO2e/ton/ km it will be 666.48kg of CO2 emission per ton(0.67kg CO2 per every kg of plastic waste). 500,000 tonnes of plastic waste per year to Malaysia will emit 333,240kg of carbon dioxide from shipping alone.
By calculating the carbon footprint whether craddle to craddle or craddle to grave approach it will add substantial carbon emission into the footprint of products, if it even make through the recycling product line instead of landfill.
Of course, it is still justifiable if all exported plastic to Malaysia is recycled since on average every kg of new plastic produce 6kg CO2 whereas recycled plastic produce 3.5kg CO2 plus the shipping of 0.67kg CO2 would come to 4.07kg, saved 1.93kg for every kg recycled. However the truth is ugly.
Shipping garbage itself contributed to carbon emission and climate change. With estimate 8997nautical miles (16,662km) between UK and Malaysia by sea route and average emission of 40g CO2e/ton/ km it will be 666.48kg of CO2 emission per ton(0.67kg CO2 per every kg of plastic waste). 500,000 tonnes of plastic waste per year to Malaysia will emit 333,240kg of carbon dioxide from shipping alone.
By calculating the carbon footprint whether craddle to craddle or craddle to grave approach it will add substantial carbon emission into the footprint of products, if it even make through the recycling product line instead of landfill.
Of course, it is still justifiable if all exported plastic to Malaysia is recycled since on average every kg of new plastic produce 6kg CO2 whereas recycled plastic produce 3.5kg CO2 plus the shipping of 0.67kg CO2 would come to 4.07kg, saved 1.93kg for every kg recycled. However the truth is ugly.
Although Malaysia only have a population of 31 millions but plastic waste produce per capita per year is 87.6kg (0.24kg/capita/day) compare to the 66 million UK population with 35kg plastic waste per capita per year.
As of August 2017, Malaysia recycling rate is only 17.5%(include industrial&municipal waste) despite waste segregation programme and required by-law whereas UK is 55%. Malaysia recycle rate target for 2020 is only 22% compare to UK 57%.
The situation in Malaysia is far from ideal to receive rubbish from UK. In 2013, Despite half of municipal solid waste is recyclable and another half comparable, 42% of it was incinerated, 56% dumped on the landfill and only 2% recycled. Landfills that cater to about 95% had reached 85% of it full capacity and expected to shot down in the next few years.
The situation in Malaysia is far from ideal to receive rubbish from UK. In 2013, Despite half of municipal solid waste is recyclable and another half comparable, 42% of it was incinerated, 56% dumped on the landfill and only 2% recycled. Landfills that cater to about 95% had reached 85% of it full capacity and expected to shot down in the next few years.
Analysis from statistics above show Malaysia produce 14% more plastic waste than UK in total while recycling rate is less than a quarter of UK. Plastic waste consist of 24% of total solid waste but total waste recycled is only 2% , obviously Malaysia neither have the capacity to even treat its own waste nor have anymore landfill capacity. In fact as the deadline for landfill is drawing nearer Malaysia need to address its own problem first. Malaysia already ranked as eighth top most(0.9 million tonnes mismanaged plastic waste, 0.37million plastic marine debris) ocean polluter in the world.
Malaysia ranking in 'the countries polluting the ocean the most' might not go up. Since UK doubling up export to Thailand (117% increased) while Indonesia swallow another 65% more garbage. Vietnam also eat up 62% more amounting to 550,000 tonnes in 2017.
I wonder what is the reason for UK to export plastic waste to Indonesia(3.2million tonnes mismanaged plastic waste, 1.29million tonnes plastic marine debris) , Vietnam(1.8 mismanaged plastic waste, 0.75 million tonnes marine plastic debris)& Thailand(1million mismanaged plastic waste, 0.41 million plastic marine debris).ranked top second, four&seven respectively. all of which having problem in recycling rate and treatment capacity of their own. Thus, I wonder what is the wisdom of UK export plastic waste to ASEAN? Did UK study the recycling capacity of these countries? are they willing to absorb? or was it raping ASEAN land (& ocean)out of desperation for UK to relief from the China ban?
I sincerely hope UK can recognise the fact below:
-8million tonnes of plastic flow into the ocean every year.
-51 trillion microplastic particles present in the ocean.
- 1.8 trillion plastic pieces in the Great Pacific garbage patch at the size of 617,000sq miles (about the size of France).
-environmental damage to marine ecosystems is estimated to equate to some $13bn per year.
- if continue with the rate the ocean will have more plastic pieces than fish in 2050.
- Plastic pollution enter into food chain: Seafood lover eaten 11,000 bits of plastic per year.
-environmental damage to marine ecosystems is estimated to equate to some $13bn per year.
- if continue with the rate the ocean will have more plastic pieces than fish in 2050.
- Plastic pollution enter into food chain: Seafood lover eaten 11,000 bits of plastic per year.
Asia-Pacific region suffer the cost of €1bn ($1.17billion or RM 4.72billion) per year from the marine industries, according to Schäli (a researcher at the World Trade Institute) yet this is not the whole picture; as she explained, the presence of alien invasive species that live on floating plastic debris can also result in serious economic losses, though the exact figure is difficult to quantify. Apart from this others industry such as tourism also severely affected.
There are many ways plastic is dangerous for human. Lead, cadmium and mercury are direct toxicity from plastic. it also enter into our food chain through seafood which is very dangerous to human. Plastic contained Diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), a toxic carcinogen. Plastic is directly linked to cancers, birth defects, immune system problems, and childhood developmental issues.
There are many ways plastic is dangerous for human. Lead, cadmium and mercury are direct toxicity from plastic. it also enter into our food chain through seafood which is very dangerous to human. Plastic contained Diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), a toxic carcinogen. Plastic is directly linked to cancers, birth defects, immune system problems, and childhood developmental issues.
By-products of burning bunker fuel from shipping emit more sulfer than others fuel, poisonous to fish& crutacean and not less harmful to seabirds and human life nearby. thus, UK is not spared from the negative side effects too.
Shipping industry contributed 1 billion tonnes of carbon emission (3% of total manmade carbon emission). Estimated one container ships around six football pitches emit pollution equivalent to 50 million cars and 15 of the same ships equal to the emission of all the cars in the world!
Undeniably, the reason for UK export out plastic waste is due to overcapacity. It will take at least 3 to 5 years to build capacity in UK and probably longer in Malaysia. However, UK is welcome to set up recycling facility in Malaysia and vice versa.
Unless until these ASEAN countries is undercapacity for plastic waste treatment and the shipping industry willing to invest in renewable technology ship out garbage around the world and come back as recycled products(UK could have omit import if recycle& sell back to domestic market) is just an act of greenwashing and insulting to the intelligence of both British and Malaysian.
I am looking forward valid reasons from you and I pray to God that UK's commitment to SDG (sustainable development goals) is not feint.
Reference
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/china-plastic-import-ban-waste-recyclables
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-asia-environment-waste-plastic/southeast-asian-plastic-recyclers-hope-to-clean-up-after-china-ban-idUSKBN1F504K
https://www.ukessays.com/essays/environmental-sciences/landfill-and-material-recycling-in-malaysia-environmental-sciences-essay.php
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/04/european-countries-most-plastic-waste-per-person/
https://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/health/case_studies/plastics.html
https://www.statista.com/chart/12211/the-countries-polluting-the-oceans-the-most/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/business-42456584
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_carbon_dioxide_emissions_per_capita
https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2018/05/364366/problem-plastic
https://cleanmalaysia.com/2015/09/04/waste-management-in-malaysia-in-the-dumps/
https://timeforchange.org/plastic-bags-and-plastic-bottles-CO2-emissions
https://timeforchange.org/co2-emissions-shipping-goods
https://www.statista.com/chart/12425/eu-plastic-waste/
https://npwd.environment-agency.gov.uk/
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/china-plastic-import-ban-waste-recyclables
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-asia-environment-waste-plastic/southeast-asian-plastic-recyclers-hope-to-clean-up-after-china-ban-idUSKBN1F504K
https://www.ukessays.com/essays/environmental-sciences/landfill-and-material-recycling-in-malaysia-environmental-sciences-essay.php
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/04/european-countries-most-plastic-waste-per-person/
https://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/health/case_studies/plastics.html
https://www.statista.com/chart/12211/the-countries-polluting-the-oceans-the-most/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/business-42456584
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_carbon_dioxide_emissions_per_capita
https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2018/05/364366/problem-plastic
https://cleanmalaysia.com/2015/09/04/waste-management-in-malaysia-in-the-dumps/
https://timeforchange.org/plastic-bags-and-plastic-bottles-CO2-emissions
https://timeforchange.org/co2-emissions-shipping-goods
https://www.statista.com/chart/12425/eu-plastic-waste/
https://npwd.environment-agency.gov.uk/
*The blog is solely created and maintaining with my own resource only. No obligation but any amount of ex-gratia to support the continuation of my writtings is appreciated.
Maybank (Malaysia)account number : 1643 1529 3268 (Tay Kian Guan)
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