By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Australia wants other countries to ban plastic waste exports and will push for a legally binding international treaty at the United Nations to limit the damage that the “ghostly walls of death” have on the marine environment.
The UN environmental assembly meets from February 28 in Nairobi, Kenya where a vote will be held to start negotiations on a plastic pollution treaty.
Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley said she wants other countries to ban plastic waste exports to “tackle the ghostly walls of death that litter Australian and international waters”.
“I would like to see more nations follow Australia’s lead and regulate their plastic waste, so it is not shipped offshore – where it becomes another country’s problem, lying in landfill or in our oceans – where it destroys marine life and precious marine environments,” Ms Ley said.
More than 14 million tonnes of plastic end up in the ocean every year, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Plastics break down to create chemical pollution, entangle and smother marine animals and are often fatally swallowed by fish, birds and mammals.
Ms Ley said Australia is part of a regional push from Pacific nations headed to the summit.
Australia has already signed a pact with other Pacific nations calling for national caps on plastic production, with a focus on single-use items.
“I am committed to working with our Pacific neighbours, supporting the call for an international agreement on Marine Plastic Pollution,” Ms Ley said.
“Our oceans are part of our national identity and critical to the daily lives of millions of Australians. Ensuring our shared oceans are clean and healthy is both a national and regional responsibility for Australia as we face a significant, urgent and growing environmental problem.”
Australia has already imposed a ban on waste exports, which came after China announced in 2017 that it would ban all waste imports by 2021.
Australia has already halted the export of whole new tyres and unprocessed single resin/polymer plastics. Unsorted paper and cardboard will be banned from July 1, 2024.
The European Union has also banned plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries.