X-From_: tgray  Wed Nov 11 09:49:01 1992
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Date:         Wed, 11 Nov 1992 09:49:08 PST
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From:         Tom Gray <tgray@IGC.APC.ORG>
Subject:      IPS: Plastic Waste Exports

/* Written 12:05 am  Oct 25, 1992 by newsdesk@igc.apc.org in igc:ips.englibrary
*/
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: ENVIRONMENT: Third World dumping ground for plastic wastes


jakarta, oct 22 (ips/ann leonard) -- alarmed by the increase in
the number of people who believe that plastics harm both health
and environment, the u.s. plastics industry has begun exporting
non-biodegradable plastic wastes to developing countries.

plastics manufacturers, who have replaced the 'biodegradable'
labels on each plastic package to 'recyclable', claim that by
sending their wastes to less industrialised countries, they are
generating employment in the third world.

in september 1991, gretchen brewer of earth circle in
california justified waste exports to asia in 'plastics news'
magazine, saying: ''they have an urgent need to employ a lot of
people, and it helps them get more raw materials.''

the u.s. chamber of commerce also denies that there are any
problems with plastic waste exports.

''there is no basis for accusations that the united states is
dumping hazardous or other waste on unsuspecting developing
countries,'' said harvey alter, manager of the chamber's
resources policy department at a congressional hearing last fall.

''materials for recycling ... are sold to enterprises in
countries with sophisticated manufacturing facilities,'' he said.

but environmentalists have discovered that plastic can almost
never be recycled into the same product. each time plastic is
heated, its chemical composition changes and quality decreases.

the most dishonest aspect of recycling claims, however, may be
that most plastic bags and bottles dropped off at local recycling
centres in the united states are shipped to developing countries
where much of it is not recycled at all.

the u.s. plastics industry is now exporting its wastes to
avoid domestic regulations and community opposition to waste-
handling facilities. by exporting to less industrialised nations,
plastics firms pay wages far below the u.s. levels.

last year, over 400 million kg of plastic wastes were sent by
the united states to about seven countries in latin america and
the caribbean, 11 in asia, six in africa and three in europe,
according to data from port import/export research service.

asia is the main target of u.s. plastic waste exporters. in
1991, over 30 million kg of plastic wastes were shipped to the
philippines, 70 million kg to indonesia and over 120 million kg
to hong kong (much of which was sent on to china).

since there are no u.s. federal standards for plastic waste
exports, no one really knows what happens to the millions of
kilograms exported annually. (more/ips)

environment: third world (2)

harrie cohen, chief executive officer of ontario plastics
recycling in california, admits that he sends all the plastic
collected by his firm to china.

''i don't know exactly what they're doing with it,'' he told
plastics news last year.

according to the environmental group greenpeace, the united
states ships wastes to countries which ban waste imports. the
group also discovered that recycling facilities pose risks to
workers and the environment.

most of the plastic sent for recycling is simply dumped in
landfills or random locations, greenpeace said.

plastic wastes which arrive in indonesia undergo labour-
intensive sorting by hand. those which are too contaminated or of
such poor quality are sent to the discard pile. almost 40 percent
of the imported waste is directly landfilled at local dumps.

plastic processing is done indoors in hot, crowded rooms with
no ventilation systems. untreated rinse water is discharged down
drains or out of the window.

hong kong is the largest single importer of u.s. plastic
waste, receiving more than half of all u.s. plastic waste exports
last year. most of the wastes are simply stored here while
awaiting shipment to china where much of the waste is dumped in
random locations in the countryside.

in august, six containers supposedly filled with plastic
wastes and shipped from new york to china were found to carry a
grisly concoction of u.s. household garbage, blood transfusion
bags and tubes.

in the philippines, strict laws banning waste imports did not
stop u.s. firms and waste brokers from shipping over 30 million
kg of plastic waste to the country last year.

the philippine navy says it needs more money for surveillance
to stop dumping of imported plastic wastes in remote islands.
(end/ips/en/al/cir/92)

(attn editors: the above material is adapted from material made
available to ips by the third world network of penang, malaysia.)

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