ARTICLE | Trafficking Plastic Waste
Is there no hope for a net-zero future? The ambitions of a net-zero future are being stymied by the exponentially increasing use of plastic, stagnated and disappointingly low global recycle levels, and the illicit trade of plastic waste into third world countries. Tackling this issue has become a question of climate justice as dumped plastic harms the health and environment of third-world countries Shivi sharma | Editorial Assistant
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umans have become addicted to plastic. It was estimated that in 2019, global plastic production totalled 368 million metric tons. Due to plastic’s durability and affordability, its market value continues to increase, but only
38 November 2021 | www.urbanupdate.in
20 per cent of it is recycled globally. A recent report published by the research group Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GITOC) points out how plastic waste from the United States of America, Europe and Australia is being dumped in countries of Southeast Asia and Africa. The illicit trafficking of plastic waste
is an emerging trend first pointed out by a report published by Interpol. The report, titled ‘INTERPOL’s Strategical Analysis On Emerging Criminal Trends in The Global Plastic Waste Market Since January 2018’, indicated that there has been a considerable increase over the past two years in illegal waste shipments, primarily rerouted
