Plastic Waste

The strong claims of effective waste management by the Western and some developed countries came into question after Indonesia experienced an influx of foreign waste coinciding with China’s decision to close its doors. 

The Philippines generates some 2.7 million tonnes of plastic waste annually and 20% of that goes to the ocean, according to the World Bank. “Sachet economy" and "high dependence" on single-use plastics continue to worsen the alarming levels of marine plastic pollution. The country is urged to enforce implementation of sufficient waste management system. 

A female waste picker’s simple dream is, in its own way, part of a much bigger plan toward a plastic-free future for Vietnam. 

In a coastal city in the Philippines, poor families in the urban margins participate in the efforts to stem the effects of climate change, yet they are still likely to bear its worst effects. This piece explains why “segregation at source” measures that target households is not enough to stem the tide of plastic wastes.