Strategies to Reduce Marine Plastic Pollution from Land-based Sources in Low and Middle - Income Countries

Accumulation of plastic wastes in the marine eco-system is growing rapidly with the increase of plastic production and consumptionpatterns, particularly single-useplastics as well as unsustainable plastic waste management practices. Land-based sources are recognised asthe main cause (up to 80% of total marine debris) of marine plastic pollution. Marine plastic pollution has thus become an issue of globalfocus and many national and local governments are searching for solutions totackle it.Rapidly developing economies, including countries in Southeast and South Asia are contributors to marine plastic pollution due to the lackof plastic waste management policies, governance systems, resources, capacities and infrastructure to keep pace with urban growth andeconomic development in the respective countries. Many local governments lack sufficient plastic waste collection and environmentallysound treatment and disposal methods. Plastic waste recovery and recycling systems are also not well established and plastic recyclingbusinesses are commonly operated by informal or small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Due to the lack of sustainable plastic wastemanagement systems, littering, open burning and unmanaged disposal of plastic waste are common practices in low and middle-incomecountries and such practices have largely contributed to costs related to environmental pollution, public health and economy. Both regionshave also being used as a dumping ground for plastic waste from other developed countries after China stopped in importing waste fromforeign countries since 2017.Based on the literature review and action research in two selected Asian countries, Indonesia (Southeast Asia) and India (South Asia),this report identifies the urgency of addressing plastic waste within the overall waste management policies and systems of the respectivecountries or cities to reduce marine plastic pollution. It also proposes a list of strategies and policy interventions to consider in reducingplastic pollution from land-based pathways. These strategies are discussed along the plastic value chain in a holistic manner and presentedunder key policy interventions, such as regulatory, economic, technology, data/information and voluntary measures, identified for the short,medium and long-term.