Illegal Waste Trade Jeopardises Penang’s Zero Waste Future
Long time stigmatised and unfairly portrayed as being responsible for the plastic #waste crisis, South East Asian countries constitute the perfect culprit for northern countries’ unsustainable practices and ways of living. Despite the false accusations, these countries are the centre of some sustainable and long-term initiatives.
The story of Penang, a state in northwest Malaysia with a population of 1,767 million, illustrates the potential of zero waste initiatives in the Global South and how illegal plastic waste trade undermines and jeopardises their development.
While measures are being taken to reduce locally-generated residual waste, the State of Penang is being plagued with foreign waste that is continually being illegally shipped in. Unrecyclable illegal exports to Penang end up illegally dumped or burned.
In October 2020, Penang saw at least 11 plastic recycling factories operating illegally in Seberang Prai (Penang state). This was not the first time, as there have been 31 several other of such illegal factories being reported in Penang, as well as in neighbouring states.
This is happening in a state that is host to various zero waste initiatives that are ready and could easily be scaled up.
Thanks to the existing zero waste policies in Penang, the state has been performing fairly well in recovering materials from its households and businesses. In 2018, it boasted the highest recycling rate in Malaysia at 43%, more than double than the national average of 21%. Further to these excellent results, the recycling rate increased to 61% in 2019.
~ Excerpts from the report, “European waste trade impacts on Malaysia’s zero waste future”