Plastic pollution: Swiss waste shipped abroad by thousands of tonnes

It is one of the unknown slopes of Negotiations in progress in Genevawhere 120 states are trying to bring out by August 14. Therefore, a treaty on an imposed, globally imposed reduction in plastic pollution. In addition, One aspect which directly concerns Switzerland: the shipment by Western countries of their plastic waste at the antipodes.

Talks bother on the questioncentral, of the limitation of the production of new polymers – against which scrap 230 petrochemical lobbyists. For example, plastic pollution: swiss waste shipped She comes to overshadow all the others. However, A Malaysian scientist. Therefore, present since Monday at the United Nations for these last chance negotiations, nevertheless alerts to the “waste colonialism”.

His country has become one of the main destinations of these trash cargos. Similarly, They contribute to “serious environmental degradations and public health problems,” said the expert of the Sahabat organization Alam Malaysia. Nevertheless, At the end of a late meeting of one of the contact groups overwhelming on the treaty. However, Mageswari Sangaralingam points, on his computer, the 258 tonnes of Swiss plastic at the rebate arrives last year in Malaysia. Nevertheless, Four times more than two years ago.

Plastic pollution: swiss waste shipped

A case of rich countries

“The developed countries are at the origin of the eight tenths of the exports of plastic plastic pollution: swiss waste shipped waste. In addition, ” confirms David Vivas Eugui, head of the unit on the ocean and circular economy within the UN Commerce and Development agency, the former UNCTAD. Similarly, Their cargoes represent a total of 4.3 million tonnes, a market exceeding 2.6 billion dollars.

Verification made with the Federal Customs Office. Switzerland sold nearly 87,000 tonnes of plastic debris abroad last year, for an amount of 13 million francs. Including two thirds in Germany and Austria. So that they are recycled – a spell that concerns Less than a tenth 790. 000 tonnes of plastic waste collected plastic pollution: swiss waste shipped per year. The overwhelming majority (83%) remains cremated by collective heating power plants, which are fighting for such a fuel.

Plastic pollution: swiss waste shipped

Shipped for “recycling”

But how can a country with such means of managing its garbage still ship plastic in India. Malaysia, Turkey, China or Thailand? To get details, ask Earth Action to dive into its database on packaging plastics.

According to this environmental research consultancy based in Lausanne, the most exported are polypropylene, the pp of yogurt pots. Or HDPE polyethylene, used, for example, for shampoo bottles collected at the entrance to supermarkets. Each up to some 12. 000 tonnes annual, ie “half of PP or HDPE waste”, due to “insufficient local recycling capacities”, points Ricardo de Gennaro, specialist in these measures.

Part of plastic pollution: swiss waste shipped the PVC “also remains exported, even if it is much more recycled,” adds the latter. Unlike the PET of water bottles. a model of the genus, 35,000 tonnes of which are recycled per year in the country.

This plastic that we lose track

The volume of cargoes officially labeled as “waste. rognures and plastic debris” and intended for recycling represents only the emerged part of the problem. “On the one hand, the recipient countries will often re -explain a part, which we lose track. On the other hand. many objects – think of the box of a flat screen – are not listed like plastic, ”points Julien Boucher, the founder of Earth Action.

“And you can add the illegal part of this business to it. ” continues the scientist, who has worked for twenty years plastic pollution: swiss waste shipped on the environmental impact of polymers. “Above all. these cargoes, once you arrive at your destination, will can can cannibalize the local recycling infrastructures, with the risk that a part ends in the wild”, warns the one that teaches EPFL.

Slow decreases

Fifteen years ago. three times more of this waste – almost 15 million tonnes – traveled around the globe, recalls the United Nations specialist. Meanwhile, an increasing number of countries in the south have started to refuse these cargoes, in the wake of China. Since June. Malaysia refuse Thus the mass of American plastics, due to the refusal of the United States to comply with the rules of the Basel Convention.

The entry into force. in 2o21, of specific amendments to plastics in this international agreement on hazardous waste now imposes, in plastic pollution: swiss waste shipped the field, an arsenal of supporting documents and verifications.

“There is a major exception. it is the clean plastic waste, not contaminated and proud, for which no permit is required, points David Vivas Eugui. But there are so many types of polymers. sanitary standards, that it remains difficult for customs to detect contaminated or dangerous plastics. ”

Waste in the viewfinder of the treaty

The delegations gathered in Geneva will settle on integration. in the future treatynew restrictions on this waste of waste. “One of the key recommendations remains to require prior consent -. knowingly – before any shipping, in particular for cargoes that escape controls, such as synthetic textiles and non -dangerous plastics,” invokes the specialist arrival of Malaysia.

Objective: to be able to refuse this plastic plastic pollution: swiss waste shipped waste which “gets rid of rich countries” in the name of recycling. Reprocessing or elimination “which generate CO₂dangerous ashes, microplastics, recalls Mageswari Sangaralingam. The new treaty can focus on this pollution. ”

Plastic paradox

The great plastic paradox – which explains the difficulty of obtaining an agreement in Geneva – comes from the fact that these are materials “very inexpensive to produce but very expensive to recycle. manage after use”, summarizes David Vivas Eugui. “Result. the only market forces are not enough to manage waste, unlike glass or aluminum, recycled at 33%,” adds the lawyer, very involved in negotiations.

It is therefore necessary to leave the taxpayers to pay. Or present the invoice to the multinationals, thanks to a binding treaty. And, ultimately, getting salad lovers in tray.

Few customs taxes for polymers

Beyond its only waste. the plastic supply necessary for our modern lifestyles represents one of the main commercial circuits. To the point of weighing today for 5% of exchanges around the globe. according to a report by the UN trade and development agency. This trade totals more than $ 1100 billion in 2024 and doubled in twenty years, recalls the former CNUD. Or more than five times all exports of fishing products.

The Organization based in Geneva puts its finger on a paradox which strangely. resonates in these times of customs surcharge brandished by America. “For the past thirty years. the average customs duties hit the plastics has melted from 34 to plastic pollution: swiss waste shipped 7% – above all due to the WTO and bilateral agreements providing for customs duties quasi null,” notes the report. While, at the same time, the taxation of plant alternatives to plastics exceeds 14%, “mining their competitiveness”.

In Switzerland. the abolition of customs duties on industrial products on 1^is January 2024 also concerns those in plastic, whatever their origin.

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