Press Briefing on Waste Trade in Thailand and Southeast Asia

Until January 2018, China was the main destination where exporting countries (predominantly G7 nations) sent their plastic waste to be recycled. Since 1988, around half the planet’s plastic waste has been sent to this country to be melted down and turned into pellets. That changed dramatically when China announced it would only accept bales of plastic waste with less than 0.5 percent contamination by non-recyclable materials – a new standard almost impossible to meet.

With China, the primary importer of global plastic waste out of the market, exporting countries began sending increasing volumes to Southeast Asia.

In this press briefing, the Country Director of Greenpeace Thailand will discuss Southeast Asia’s case study of imported plastic waste and the organization’s views on the ASEAN Framework on Marine Debris. Meanwhile, the President of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung will provide perspectives from the exporting G7 Nations on the issue.

Speakers:

 

Mr. Tara Buakamsri,
Country Director of Greenpeace Thailand

Ms. Barbara Unmüßig,
President of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung

On 6 November 2019, the Heinrich Böll Stiftung in cooperation with the “Break Free From Plastic” coalition of which Greenpeace Thailand is a member, launched an international Plastic Atlas that looked into a wide-range of aspects relating to the global plastic crisis.

For inquiries about the briefing contact Heinrich Böll Stiftung’s Daniel Abunales (Mobile: 061 4251455; Email: daniel.abunales@th.boell.org),

Greenpeace Thailand’s Somrudee Panasudtha (Mobile: 0819295747, Email: somrudee.panasudtha@greenpeace.org).

Refreshments will be served during the briefing.

For the exact location of the venue, please refer to the attached map.   

If you’re taking the BTS, get off at Thong Lor Station

· Take exit 1, then head north for about 50 meters until you reach Sukhumvit 53

· At the corner of Sukhumvit Road and Sukhumvit 53, there are motorbikes, tell them to take you to Soi Krating Daeng

· Alternatively, you can walk from the mouth of the Soi till you reach the entrance of Waterford Condo and Raintree Villa. It takes about 15 minutes to walk

· Turn left at the small soi opposite Waterford Condo Gate (Krating Daeng – this is a private Soi so there’s no sign board available)

· hbs office is at the end of Soi Krating Daeng