Controlling trans-boundary movement of waste plastic

In 1950, total global plastic production was 1.50 million tonnes. It gradually increased and reached at 365 million tonnes in 2019. It is now presumed that the volume would be doubled in 2050. Because of its various advantages like light weight, durable, price competitiveness, unbreakable, longer life, weight bearing, easy technology to match production and availability of raw materials plastic becomes popular, convenient and acceptable.

Today, plastic is a commodity like wheat (755 million tonnes), rice-(500 million tonnes), steel (1800 million tonnes), cotton (25 million tonnes), and silver (26,900 million tonnes) produced globally in 2018. The consumption of plastic per capita per annum in the United States of America (USA) is 105kg, Japan 114 kg, Australia 130 kg and United Kingdom (UK) 111 kg. In Bangladesh, the per capita annual consumption is 15-17 kg.

Bangladesh imported 1.8 million tonnes of plastic in 2018 which was 0.30 per cent of global production. Again Bangladesh is exporting plastic goods worth of US$ 119 million directly and US$ 600 million (PWC) worth of goods as garments accessories, and pharma, textile and food packaging etc. Wooden Pallets now a day replaced by plastic pallets made from recycling plastic. Large Jambo FIBC bag for food grains, sand and chemicals are also exported from Bangladesh.

BASEL CONVENTION: During 1970-80, there was a global concern on trans-boundary movement (TBM) of wastes and hazardous wastes. Civil society raised their concern that many developed countries were dumping their wastage in least developed countries (LDCs) and mostly this was 'toxic' waste. It was seriously damaging human health and causing many diseases. Due to lack of international laws and regulations some countries take advantage of dumping wastes indiscriminately. To control the movement of wastes and hazardous wastes, delegates from different countries and civil society organisations gathered at various meetings in Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm to formulate a set of international laws and regulations. Finally on March 22, 1989, they have adopted the BASEL Convention which entered into force on May 1992. So far, 168 countries/parties, including Bangladesh, have ratified the convention.

Later on May 10, 2019, after two weeks of negotiation involving 1400 delegates, countries also agreed to extend and include plastic waste in Basel Convention to control of trans-boundary movement of plastic waste. They also agreed to develop a legal framework.

Under the framework they agreed that any importing country receiving waste have the right to refuse if found miss-declaration and non-compliant and exporting country is bound to take back the waste.

CHINA BANNED WASTE PLASTIC IMPORT: China was the largest buyer of global waste plastic, up to 56 per cent of total trade, before imposing ban in 2018. Most of the wastes were from USA, EU, Canada, Germany, UK etc. Until 2010, China tried to improve the quality of wastes but failed. A large amount of imported waste plastic was a mix of food, garbage and toxic materials. This unmanaged plastic waste drove the Chinese government to tackle the situation and it implemented Green Fence Operation in 2013 to monitor the waste entering.

EAST & SOUTH ASIAN ON TBM: Many countries in East Asia and South Asia have faced severe problem of plastic wastes imported from developed countries. After banning in China, many waste plastic processors from China has relocated or set up waste processing plant particularly in Malaysia, Philippine, Thailand and Vietnam. At the beginning respective countries failed to understand the impact. Later, realising the environment degradation and health hazardous, they also banned the import.

As of January 1, 2025, Thailand has officially banned the import of plastic waste. Vietnam also no longer issuing any import license and ban of plastic waste up to 2025. India expanded it prohibition and ban on import of plastic waste. Philippine court has ordered the container to be sent back to exporting origin country. Philippine refuge to accept 67 container of waste from Canada and created severe diplomatic misunderstanding between the two countries and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he was prepared to declare war against Canada over this issue and Canada take back 67 containers. Similarly Malaysian govt has sent back many container of waste plastic to the originating country including Bangladesh. Malaysia also revoked the all import permit issued and chasing all illegal processing plant. They form a task force on illegal importation and returning the waste to China, Philippine and Indonesia.

BANGLADESH POSITION ON TBM: Bangladesh has already developed a legal frame work for controlling TBM of waste plastic.

l The import policy 2015-2018 prohibited import of any kind of wastage into Bangladesh.

l Bangladesh is signatory of Basel Convention where waste, hazardous and plastic waste export is restricted.

l UNEA adopted a resolution that waste must be recycled or reprocess or disposal in the originating country. Bangladesh is also a signatory of this regulation.

l Bangladesh is the first country in the world banning production, and distribution of plastic shopping bag or single use plastic bag.

Apart from rules, laws, regulations and legal frameworks, the government also need to develop technical ability, methodology, policy intervention when needed and collaboration/partnership with  experience organisations on  how to cope with TBM situation. In the coming days we need more protection for our environment not only from plastic wastes but also electronic wastes. For example, new technology is developing for home appliances that is more environment friendly but older version will be sent to our country at a dumping price. So knowledge gathering and awareness building is must.

Bangladesh government has adopted a number of measures as action plans to safeguard environments. These include: National Environmental Policy 1992; National Environment Management Action Plan (NEMAP) 1995 (updated in 1998); National Environmental Management Plan 1995; The Environment Conservation rules (ECR) 1997; Polythene Bag Ban 2002; Solid Waste Management Handling Rules 2005 (draft); Lead Acid Battery Recycling and Management, 2009; Mandatory Jute Packing Act, 2010; Environment Court Act 2010; Import Policy order 2015-2018; and Draft Electrical and Electronic waste (e-waste) Management Rules-2017.

CONCLUSION: Bangladesh needs to follow the UNEA resolution adopted regarding TBM. Combined effort by all countries to face the situation on how to minimise wastage and make the end of waste life rather than recycle in environment. Wastes originated in the developed countries must find out a way how bring back the wastes to the circular economy in those countries.

Developed countries contribution to carbon emission is much more and they need to take more responsibilities. Developing countries like Bangladesh's contribution is less than one per cent. Similarly, developed nations have to take main responsibilities to curb the TBM of waste plastic.

Plastic wastes development is a man-made disaster due to lack of awareness, inappropriate use and inadequate investment in waste management infrastructure. So, developed countries needs to invest more.

In Bangladesh, we must update with TBM policy frame work and develop method to identify waste coming within the country. We also need to develop specific intervention strategies in collaboration with originating countries (if export to Bangladesh), arrange training of custom officers to identify wastes and update knowledge in global waste movement regularly. Co-operation with environment ministry and other government agencies is also necessary.  Finally, port authorities have to handle the arrival of wastes carefully.

Technical assistance is also needed to strictly control the TBM of hazardous plastic wastes. So far, there is no dedicated spot for disposing hazardous wastes. Lack of logistic facilities regarding the disposal is also there.

Last but not least, in China waste import business was very remunerative and sold to black market at premium price which made the country a garbage depot at the cost of China's citizen health and environment. That's why China finally banned plastic waste import in 2018. Bangladesh needs to take lesson from China and there must not a repetition of the same irreparable damage.

The writer is Vice Chairman, Bangladesh Institute of Plastic Engineering & Technology (BIPET). shamim.lvt@gmail.com