Cambodia is the latest Asian country to reject the U.S. and Canada’s onslaught of plastic waste. They will be sending approximately 1,764 tons in 83 containers back to North America in revolt.
BREAKING: Cambodia joins China, Indonesia, the Philippines, and other Asian countries in pushing back against countries who externalize plastic waste. #breakfreefromplastic #plasticpollutes #plasticpollution https://t.co/DtMhJndxbS
— The Story of Stuff Project (@storyofstuff) July 17, 2019
China had made the decision to ban foreign plastic waste imports last year creating a ripple effect among other countries like Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and more.
“Cambodia is not a dustbin where foreign countries can dispose of out-of-date e-waste, and the government also opposes any import of plastic waste and lubricants to be recycled in this country,” Neth Pheaktra a spokesman for the country’s environment minister said.
A government committee is making an effort to find out why the containers were shipped to them in the first place. They were marked as “recyclable products” and the country is hoping the company responsible will be fined and brought to court.
Cambodia already suffers greatly from its own plastic waste issue generated domestically. With little public awareness or the infrastructure to deal with the issue, the last thing they need is another country’s waste.
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