Plastic Recycling Crisis: Southeast Asia Drowning in Imported Waste

Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand, has been flooded with imported plastic waste after China banned most plastic waste imports in 2018. Thailand has seen a surge in plastic pollution, with only a small fraction of plastic being repurposed and the rest ending up in landfills or open dumping sites. The influx of plastic waste has also led to the establishment of new recycling facilities with little regulation, causing health and environmental concerns for local communities. The lives of informal waste pickers, who rely on collecting plastics for recycling, have been severely affected by the depressed prices of plastic waste. Thailand has announced restrictions on plastic waste imports starting next year and a complete ban by 2025, but enforcement remains a challenge.