This handout photo taken on July 16, 2019 and released on July 17, 2019 by the Cambodian Ministry of Environment shows workers openinng a container loaded with plastic waste after the shipment arrived at Sihanoukville port in Preah Sihanouk province. - Cambodia will return about 1,600 tonnes of plastic waste to US and Canada after the rubbish were found at a seaport, an official said on July 17. (Photo by Handout / Cambodian Ministry of Environment / AFP) / -----EDITORS NOTE --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / Cambodian Ministry of Environment" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS / “The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this handout photo has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [correcting date July 16, 2019 instead of 2018]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.”
This handout photo taken on July 16, 2019 and released on July 17, 2019 by the Cambodian Ministry of Environment shows workers openinng a container loaded with plastic waste after the shipment arrived at Sihanoukville port in Preah Sihanouk province. - Cambodia will return about 1,600 tonnes of plastic waste to US and Canada after the rubbish were found at a seaport, an official said on July 17. (Photo by Handout / Cambodian Ministry of Environment / AFP) / -----EDITORS NOTE --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / Cambodian Ministry of Environment" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS / “The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this handout photo has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [correcting date July 16, 2019 instead of 2018]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.”
File Photo: photo taken on July 16, 2019 and released on July 17, 2019 by the Cambodian Ministry of Environment shows workers opening a container loaded with plastic waste after the shipment arrived at Sihanoukville port in Preah Sihanouk province. – Cambodia will return about 1,600 tonnes of plastic waste to US and Canada after the rubbish was found at a seaport, an official said on July 17. (Photo by Handout / Cambodian Ministry of Environment / AFP) /
Britain has agreed to take back 42 containers of plastic waste illegally exported to Malaysia, officials said Monday, as several Asian nations push back against becoming the world’s trash dump.
Southeast Asia has been flooded with plastic from more developed nations such as the US and Australia since last year when China — which boasted a massive recycling industry — ordered a halt to imports.
Many recycling businesses from China moved to Malaysia after the ban took effect, leaving officials struggling to return a large number of shipping containers full of waste brought in from abroad.
After a visit by UK environment officials, Britain agreed to take back containers sent to a major port in northern Penang state since last year without the necessary import papers.
Malaysian Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin praised the “highly commendable” move by London.
“This cooperation signifies a recognition that plastic pollution is a global issue which requires commitment from various countries to address the problem,” she said in a statement.
British High Commissioner Charles Hay said the return of the containers showed the UK’s “commitment to fighting the illegal plastic waste trade”.
Officials hope to take back all the containers by the end of the year, a Malaysian High Commission spokesman said.
Several Southeast Asian countries have sent back unwanted waste in recent months. Indonesia has returned hundreds of containers to their countries of origin, while the Philippines returned a huge shipment of garbage to Canada.
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