Page 41 - Plastics News February 2022

INTERNATIoNAL NEwS

Plastic Waste Import Rises In Nigeria And Other Australia Pushes For

African Countries Plastic Export Ban

u s t ralia
Aw ant s
other countries
to ban plastic
waste exports
and will push for
a legally binding
international
tr eaty at
th e U n ited
Natio n s to
limit the damage that the “ghostly
walls of death” have on the marine
environment. The UN environmental
assembly meets from February 28 in
Nairobi, Kenya where a vote will be
igeria, other West African countries, most electronic and electric products held to start negotiations on a plastic
Nhave been face very significant such as fridges, computers and auto pollution treaty. Federal Environment
trafficking in Plastics electronic and spare parts are partly composed of Minister Sussan Ley said she wants
vehicle waste into their countries and This plastic.” He said: “Plastic compounds other countries to ban plastic waste
trafficking acts as a carrier of plastic soon- associated with electronic waste are of exports to “tackle the ghostly walls
to-be waste imports, as most electronic particular concern, as they are known to of death that litter Australian and
and electric products, according to Tom be hazardous due for example to heavy international waters” “I would like to
Gammage, Ocean Campaigner, London- metals in flame retardants. “Even though see more nations follow Australia’s
based Environmental Investigation recuperation of the plastic compounds lead and regulate their plastic waste,
Agency (EIA). there is a huge data from those products have been observed, so it is not shipped offshore – where
gap in Africa, which makes it extremely authorities lack knowledge on how it becomes another country’s problem,
challenging to make assertions. In they are further used and whether they lying in landfill or in our oceans –
its new report, The Truth Behind are source of illegal waste treatment where it destroys marine life and
Trash: The scale and impact of the – more field investigations are needed precious marine environments,” Ms
international trade in plastic waste, EIA to bring light on this specific situation. Ley said. More than 14 million tonnes
has pulled together and analysed available “It is possible that other destinations of plastic end up in the ocean every
plastic waste export data to give the will be found in Africa, however more year, according to the International
most comprehensive picture to date data is necessary to assess this in detail. Union for Conservation of Nature.
of the world’s mounting plastic waste Likewise, oil and chemical companies are Plastics break down to create chemical
trade problem. “Despite the African pushing for plastic waste to be included pollution, entangle and smother marine
continent being situated geographically in a Kenya – US free trade agreement, animals and are often fatally swallowed
closer to Europe than Asia, there is no which could mean this problem worsens by fish, birds and mammals. Ms Ley
evidence pointing to African countries as in Africa in coming years.” The precise said Australia is part of a regional push
significant destinations for plastic waste contribution of the plastic waste trade from Pacific nations headed to the
exports. But three African countries business to global plastic pollution is summit. Australia has already signed a
(Ghana, Malawi and South Africa) were unknown but is clearly significant, to pact with other Pacific nations calling
for national caps on plastic production,
identified by INTERPOL as destinations judge from discrepancies between the with a focus on single-use items. “I am
for illegal shipments of plastic waste. level of plastic waste trade and the committed to working with our Pacific
“This trafficking acts as a carrier of ability to import countries to deal with neighbours, supporting the call for an
plastic soon-to-be waste imports, as this waste. international agreement on Marine
Plastic Pollution,” Ms Ley said.

40 PLASTICS NEWS FEBRUARY 2022 41 PLASTICS NEWS FEBRUARY 2022