Masood Karimipour : Illegal Waste Trade Threatens Southeast Asia

By Trend News Line 2024-04-02 14:55:23.

Southeast Asia a Major Destination for Illegal Waste Shipments

Illegal waste shipments continue to plague Southeast Asia, with a recent United Nations report highlighting the region as a major destination for waste trafficking. The report, titled “Turning the Tide: A Look Into the European Union-to-Southeast Asia Waste Trafficking Wave,” identifies Europe, North America, and Asia as the main origin regions for these illegal activities. Countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are facing the brunt of this issue, posing significant challenges to their waste management systems.

Main Types of Waste Traded

According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the main types of waste traded in these illegal shipments include plastic, e-waste, metal, and paper. Additionally, mixed materials, textiles, vehicle parts, industrial waste, and medical waste are also commonly trafficked. Upon arrival at the destination, the lack of traceability back to the country of origin complicates take-back or repatriation procedures, leading to abandoned or unclaimed containers at ports. This further exacerbates the problem and hinders enforcement and investigation efforts, ultimately resulting in the waste ending up in illegal dumps or being burned in the open.

Challenges in Waste Management

Masood Karimipour, the UNODC Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, emphasized that waste management has become a pressing issue intertwined with production, consumption habits, waste crime, corruption, organized crime, money laundering, and the circular economy. The crime of waste trading not only undermines the value of legal, well-regulated waste trading but also has detrimental effects on sustainable economies. The first-ever mapping of waste shipments from Europe to Southeast Asia sheds light on the exploitation of legal loopholes by criminal actors for financial gain and the negative impact this crime has on the global circular economy.

Malaysia’s Role in Waste Importation

The report reveals that Malaysia ranks fourth as the top importer of plastic waste globally, with over 2.6 million tonnes imported between 2018 and 2022. The country’s highest volume of waste imports between 2017 and 2021 consisted of ferrous waste followed by paper and cardboard. The United States, Japan, and Australia were the largest waste exporters to Malaysia during this period, with European Union member states collectively exporting 1.8 million tonnes of waste to the country. Plastic, paper, and ferrous waste were the main types of waste exported from Europe to Malaysia, while illegal imports included plastic waste, metal scrap, waste paper, steel scrap, aluminum scrap, and e-waste. Authorities reported false declarations and lack of import permits as the main tactics used to import illegal waste via sea routes.

In conclusion, the issue of illegal waste trafficking remains a significant challenge for Southeast Asia, with countries like Malaysia at the forefront of this crisis. The UN report sheds light on the complexities and negative impacts of this crime on the global economy, urging for stronger enforcement and international cooperation to combat this growing threat..

– Illegal waste trade in Southeast Asia
– Southeast Asia targeted by illegal waste trade.