MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations have seen a drastic increase in the quantity of plastic being dumped on them “in the name of recycling” after China banned plastic waste imports last year, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) said. Pollution from plastic waste, acknowledged as a major environmental problem of global concern, has reached epidemic proportions, with an estimated 100 million tons of plastic now found in the oceans. Experts say 80 to 90 percent of the plastic come from land-based sources. Governments amended the Basel Convention to include plastic waste in a legally binding framework, which will make global trade in plastic waste more transparent and better regulated. A new partnership on plastic waste was also established to mobilize business, government, academic and civil society resources, interests and expertise to assist in implementing the new measures and to provide a set of practical supports including tools, best practices, technical and financial assistance.

Source: Philippine Star May 20, 2019 16:01 UTC