Marial Crastus of DEFRA UK email to me dated 21 August 2018
DEFRA-Fact sheet: Plastic pollution
Last updated August 2018
16 August 18
My previous Letter to UK: Would UK increase the recycling capacity in Malaysia in tandem with the plastic waste export?
22August 18
My email to Mr. Xavier& Ms. Yeo of Malaysia
The email is as below:
Pertaining to the reply from UK Maria Crastus, I thank her for the time prepare the email and Her Majesty Queen Elizabth 2 for having such responsive government (even to a developing country's nobody like me). I am impress with her explanation and defense though it wouldn't make me change my previous email a bit.
I'm afraid political correctly you may need to apology for my silliness to UK. What I would probably reciprocal in return to UK and suggestion for Malaysia are as below;
Maria Crastus reported that "the Environment Agency issued 130 stop notices, stopped 4,565 tonnes of waste destined for illegal export at ports and intervened further upstream to prevent a further 15,113 tonnes of waste from reaching our ports." I wonder what significant is it compare to the 500,000 tonnes to be export to Malaysia? Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, each to be import more than 500,000 tonnes of plastic waste from UK.
I am able to distinguish between whether having capacity to treat properly segregated plastic waste imported from UK or not, and those locally mismanaged garbage on land and polluting ocean. This means not having sufficient ability and capacity to treat local waste does not means not having sufficient capacity to treat imported waste from UK. however, I also recognise that the 500,000 tonnes plastic waste UK export to Malaysia is out of sudden from the China ban thus ignite the question of whether Malaysia (&those ASEAN country that are ranked world most polluted in the world) able to treat those waste properly?
If not, then the carbon emission from the shipping is adding pain to the wound.
Another problem I inferred in my previous email is the demand for green products. Since Malaysia demand for recycled products is low thus even the plastic waste imported to Malaysia is recycled it would have trouble to market it locally thus would likely ship out again (Shipping back& flow- Carbon Emission). Without the demand for recycle products market recycling the plastic waste is not economically viable thus not possible. it would most likely end up in landfill or added burden to the incineration plant or end up in the 5 gyre (ocean soup).
Honestly, it may not be insulting to Malaysian in general since environmental consciousness is fairly low here but as a member of civil society regardless which country I would migrated to I will still affected by the transboundary effects of the pollution. I do not think adding burden to landfill, incinerator or ocean is wise.
In the UK "A Green Future: Our 25 year plan to environment":
Refer to Page 40- Protecting Crops while reducing the environmental impact of pesticide. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is very favourable to Malaysia since tropical climate can grow wider variety of crops and crops companion is a natural way for soil management and pest management. Other than crops companion, natural pest predator such as ducks for paddy has been adopted in Japan, New Zealand and France for many years. Apple snail is a problem for paddy but a food for duck. Duck poo is fertilizer for paddy, it's a symbiotic relationship. Permaculture is starting to gain footage in Malaysia the government should put effort to promote it.
Refer to Page 83- Achieve zero avoidable plastic waste by end of 2042. My apology to UK for my provocative words in the previous email. UK seems serious about bringing one-time use plastic a thing of past. Since UK specifically narrow down the due date to 2042 instead of a more fancy 2020 or 2050, this means UK had done some planning and research before confidently fix the data.
I wouldn't suggest Malaysia to proclaim any of such manifesto if we can not deliver. Don't misunderstood I do have confident on you guys otherwise I wouldn't keep bring up my unilateral communication with the past government. Perhaps I barked on the wrong tree or my message didn't even reach to the right person then. Whatever it is realistically we should first find out what is the status now before planning for future. 70% of total Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) are from city and only 10-17% recycle rate is relatively low by developed country standard.
Organic waste from slaughter house, supermarket& wet market is the easiest to harvest. May I suggest compost all organic waste from commercial by-law? this is low hanging fruit. There's compost machine able to convert organic waste to fertilizer within 24hours or 72hrs most which means it will convert waste management cost into profit from selling fertilizer back to farmer. This also reduce river pollution as it divert the organic waste from dumping into river.
Nonetheless, due to high initial cost government may work with supplier to introduce installment plan or financial arrangement of some sort.
Maria Crastus also mentioned the problem of biodegradable plastic waste which hinted UK might also have the waste segregation problem. I belief Japan is the country to learn from. Not only they segregate but they divided into different type of plastic waste.
By means of biodegradable packaging, I means canvas, hemp, or paper bag which very distinctive. Nowadays, sugar cane fibre, fungus and starch is cultured or blend to make packaging. The output is more of compostable waste than recyclable waste.
Refer to Page 89- Food waste. Despite Malaysia a much poorer country compare to UK but Malaysia don't lose out in food waste. Poor Inventory management and impulsive shopping contribute to the problem while the largest food waste (50% wasted) is from the farming to dinning table.
On top of Food waste, I would like to suggest Malaysia to include foodmiles label into the food market. Foodmile is the mileage of food from farmer land to consumer. Imported food is the main culprit.
The solution is grow your own food. I've suggested city farming for 'River of Life project' and 'Sustainable Living' syllabus for primary and high school. DBKL has been planting trees and shrubs around the city centre which is very good to bring down Heat Island Effect but it would be better if the shrub is not Jasmine but chili or ginger or lemon grass (natural remedy to deter mosquito) or lime trees.
Refer to Page 92- Tackling Marine Litter. I apologize to UK for misunderstood them ignore the facts that marine litter is transboundary. I'm confident that UK is serious in tackling the issues. Although we don't have albatross but our turtle species are some of the most endanger in the world.
Although situation in Malaysia is relatively good compare to others but it is so that we shouldn't let our guard down. I notice some recycling and waste management arrangement has been done in Perhentian Island and Tioman after it became serious but the problem is still not over. This is also part of our tourism industry.
I've been traveling to Krabi and Phuket for the past decade. water quality is depleting and garbage problem is getting worst. Now pristine Island like Similan is only open certain season to protect it. We do not want it to happen in Malaysia island.
Refer to Page 95- Crack down on Fly-tippers and Waste Criminals. This is very interesting. Generally, I would say it is a thing of past in Singapore but no visible effort is seen in Malaysia. Dust, vermin, and insect infestation is even more severe in tropical country Malaysia. When the sun heat up garbage the smell is unbearable.
I would also like to voice up my dissatisfaction about refuse chamber design in Malaysia most of it I visited is design problem. Somebody need to knock LAM (Lembaga Akitek Malaysia)& PAM (Persekutuan Akitek Malaysia) door.
Literally, there is no law enforcement for litter bugs. I'm not sure whether there is provision of law for fly-tippers，I wish it is enacted if not already done so.
The waste segregation program is not enforced despite one year trial period is over. by the way, does Malaysia have sufficient capacity to treat the recyclable waste?
I also encourage biocompost (i.e. black soldier fly larvae& compost worm) or convert organic waste into biogas for cooking. This suggestion had been sent to DBKL and the former Federal Territory Minister (Tengku Adnan) numerous time. but nothing in return. Organic waste constitute more than 45% of solid waste which translate to millions of ringgit waste management cost monthly. most of it compacted in Shah Alam before dump it to landfill, disregard CO2e emission.
Refer to Page 101- Minimizing Chemical Contaimination in our (UK) water. Although it is not related to plastic waste but it is very relevant to Malaysia context as well since water pollution from agriculture and pesticide is prevalent. polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) too found in most of our consumer products. I've also previously citing about EDC (Endocrine Disruptive Chemical) which until now no effective treatment is available to get rid off from water supply. I belief we should learn from UK in minimizing chemical contaimination in our water and how to treat those chemical in our water.
Besides, I also notice there are many expired main pipe yet to be replaced which posses health risk to people. Main pipe supply's maintenance is under water supply company but those old pipe under private sector care should also be monitor and regulated, in order to protect the health of people. I belief government have record of the type and expected expiry date plumbing of each real estate development. In Singapore, I've done a few HIP (Home Improvement Program) that replaces 15 to 20 year old apartment. Ten and thousands of house unit plumbing, refuse chute, spalling concrete, waterproofing and painting, problem is resolved through the program to unsure safety and hygiene of resident.
Refer to Page 109- Maximum Sustainable Yield for fishing (MSY). Should ASEAN adopt the similar approach with EU Fisheries Management in 2006 which set quotas to prevent overfishing to the depleting fish stock. The Total Allowable Catches should be adjusted toward recover and maintaining sustainable level of fish stock. Sustainable aquaculture may be alternative for fish supply when supply from catches is severely below demand.
Malaysia should have a similar program with the UK's National Adaptation Program. I have previously draft a Resilient City proposal to all major cities in Malaysia for the same purpose. I believe it is time Malaysia to plan to be 'Future Ready'.
Page 122, under the heading of Actions we (UK) will take include:
1. Continuing to help support developing countries on high priority environmental projects.
2. Doing more to help developing nations tackle pollution and reduce plastic waste, including through UK aid.
3. Continuing to deliver the UK’s Darwin Initiative and Darwin Plus programmes.
4. Assisting countries in preparing, producing and implementing National Adaptation Programmes of Action.
5. Sharing UK expertise with emerging economy partners through Prosperity Fund programmes.
6. Helping to produce national capacity building plans (complementing existing national and regional plans) for developing Blue Economies of small island developing states by 2025.
7. Continuing to improve the flow of finance to low carbon projects and ensure proper regulation of clean energy markets. This will help emerging markets to improve medium-term regulation.
Page 127, Establishing a cross-government global resource initiative in 2018 to work with businesses, NGOs, producer countries and intermediary countries. This will bring together key actors to identify actions across supply chains that will improve the sustainability of products and reduce deforestation.
If UK recognize the negative impacts of deforestation then should it not consider landfill in Malaysia will contribute to deforestation? incineration will ultimately require space to dispose off too. Other than end up floating on the ocean, deforestation seems to be unavoidable faith. Sorry for being harsh and did not politically filtered but we are living in reality, not fantasy.
Page 146, Natural England's Metrics. I applause UK intelligent to come out with the Natural Metrics and Natural Capital which Malaysia shouldn't wait to plagiarized. Not that we are any lesser in brain but perhaps some had already leak out to UK (most end up in Singapore) and of course financially Malaysia would need to focus on more basic and urgent issues people facing everyday, for vote or "untuk rakyat".
I can not be more shameful enough to reply Maria Crastus email since it is a "non-reply" type email. you may share some common understanding with me but of course you need to be politically correct to keep your "bowl of rice" (job) hence I appreciate your understanding and hope you and UK side forgive me for my openness (may be rude but no doubt sincere).
I would like take this opportunity to thank Netherland for making real(脚踏实地) effort in battling with the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage& others garbage gyre. Perhaps, UK may join to save our ocean for the next generation to come.
Best regards,
Tay Kian Guan
Tel: 011 2731 7552
*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)
*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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