BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Bigger Picture  >  Earth Matters  >  How Can We End Waste Colonialism? - Part 2

How Can We End Waste Colonialism? - Part 2

Wong Pui Yi, Research Consultant, Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) and Basel Action Network | Nabila Zulkeflee, Environmental Research Officer, Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center)

29-Apr-24 15:00

How Can We End Waste Colonialism? - Part 2

Since the late 1980s, over a quarter of a billion tonnes of plastic waste have been globally traded, disproportionately burdening developing countries with insufficient waste management capacities, while enabling developed nations to sustain high plastic consumption. Referred to as "waste colonialism," this practice leads to irreparable harm to the environment and human health in importing countries like Malaysia, now a top destination for plastic waste following China's 2018 ban. A new report by the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) exposes corruption and regulatory loopholes exacerbating the crisis, with Malaysia importing a substantial portion of plastic waste from Japan, raising doubts about Japan's support for waste management infrastructure in Southeast Asia. With a limited recycling capacity, Malaysia struggles to manage both domestic and imported plastic waste. In a previous episode, we discussed the challenges and loopholes identified in the institutional framework governing plastic waste imports to Malaysia, and how a lack of monitoring and transparency in the recycling industry compounded the issue. In this second part, we discuss among other things, how Malaysia can learn from China and Thailand's experiences in managing plastic waste and implementing policies to reduce imports, and how to address the challenges of waste colonialism and promote sustainable waste management practices both globally and in Malaysia, with Wong Pui Yi and Nabila Zulkeflee, from the C4 Center.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Produced by: Juliet Jacobs

Presented by: Juliet Jacobs


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  environment

Tags:  the bigger pictureearth mattersplastic pollutionwaste colonialismplastic importsplastic waste managementrecyclingzero wastecorruption INC-4Global Plastics Treatyc4 centre





Play / Pause

Listen now : BFM 89.9 -- The Business Station

Today’s Shows



11:00 AM

Best of Enterprise

(REPEAT) Eng Sheng Guan, CEO and Co-Founder of Fiuu, one of Malaysia’s largest B2B payment platforms, shares the company’s 20-year journey, from pioneering e-commerce shopping carts in the early 2000s as Razer Fintech, to processing over RM44 billion in transactions annually across eight markets today.

12:00 PM

Just For Kicks

(REPEAT) Kam and the JFK pundits relive that glorious UCL Semi-Final between Inter and Barcelona, the other European matches, and look ahead to the Matchweek 36 of the EPL.

1:00 PM

A Bit of Culture

(REPEAT) Kam and his two guests, Sheryll and Matt talk about ChatGPT’s relationship with grammar and syntax, algorithm, and visible “broligarch”.

2:00 PM

Ringgit & Sense

(REPEAT) Kimberly Law, licensed financial planner and co-founder of Uno Advisers, talks about FOMO and how bad it can be for your bank balance, if you’re not careful.

2:30 PM

The Property Show

(REPEAT) How do you keep cockroaches out of your house? Experts, Regine Lim from the Malaysia Pest Management Association, and entomologist, Lim Say Piau, show us how we can fight back.

3:00 PM

Best of The Bigger Picture

(REPEAT) We speak to Dr Vilashini Somiah about her work, getting elected to chair the Southeast Asia Council (SEAC) of the Association for Asian Studies (AAS), the challenges faced by marginalised communities in the region and so much more.

4:00 PM

Best of Evening Edition

(REPEAT) Should (and could) we eradicate mosquitoes? Dr. Ong Song-Quan joins us to discuss the ecological role mosquitoes play and how we can protect ourselves from these pests.

5:00 PM

BBC World Service

BFM presents the BBC World Service, which provides in-depth coverage of issues from around the world.