A Palmerston North environmental advocate is hosting a global online forum to discuss the need for stricter rules around exporting plastic waste to developing countries for recycling. She said while it is a positive step, developing nations can, and do, feel pressured to take more powerful nations' waste to maintain trade and diplomatic relationships. The government must take more responsibility and set contamination limits on the plastic waste New Zealand exports overseas, she said. Malaysia, Indonesia, The Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam now take about 58 per cent of New Zealand's plastic waste exports by value – up from 22 per cent from 2014. Late last year, Indonesia announced it was sending back five containerships full of New Zealand's contaminated plastic waste.

Source: Stuff June 21, 2020 04:30 UTC