Country: Malaysia

Topic: Marine Pollution Caused by Plastic Waste

Council: United Nation Environmental Progamme

Background

Plastic production has grown significantly since 1950. Today, over 300 million
tons of plastic are produced every year, while half of them are designed for a single-use
purpose. Only nine percent of the nine billion tons of plastic the world has ever produced
has been recycled. This becomes a huge problem, with the fact that around 60% of plastic
has ended up in either landfill or the natural environment. At least 8 million tons of
plastic end up in the ocean every year. The impact of the plastic waste in the ocean is
clearly shown by hundreds of species who suffer from ingestion, suffocation,
entanglement, and also starvation as their stomachs are filled with plastic debris. Not only
the marine ecosystem, it also affects food safety and quality, human health, and coastal
tourism.

Past Action & Stance

Malaysia view this matter as an important matter, and is committed to combat

plastic pollution. Malaysia has recently unveiled "Malaysia's Roadmap Towards Zero
Single-Use Plastic 2018-2030". Back in 2011, Malaysia introduced the No Plastic Bag
Day program in order to discourage the use of plastic bags for carrying items purchased
from shopping stores. Aimed at reducing the environmental degradation from improper
disposal of used plastic bags, the No Plastic Bag Day program applies a "market"
instrument to discourage consumers from using plastic bags to carry items purchased. For
every plastic requested by customer, should be charged for MYR0.20 (USD0.06) which
is channelled to the state’s AES (Agenda Ekonomi Saksama) which plays role in
eradicating poverty.
Country: Malaysia

Topic: Marine Pollution Caused by Plastic Waste

Council: United Nation Environmental Progamme

Malaysia is currently has a huge concern towards plastic pollution, due to the
surging imports of plastic waste into our country since January 2018 from other parts of
the world.  There were regulation violations in the disposal of imported plastic waste to
the country (plastic is burned on roadsides in the open-air, dumped in unregulated or
poorly regulated dump sites close to bodies of water, discarded in abandoned buildings or
just left to degrade and rot in the open) thus contributing to environmental pollution and
harmful health impact for Malaysians.  These wastes come primarily from developed
countries, with the US, Japan, United Kingdom, being the top 3.

For this matter, Malaysia would imposed a limit and eventual ban on the import
of all non-recyclable solid waste, particularly plastic. Noted on April 2019, Malaysia has
closed 148 illegal factories, and on May 2019 has sent back 3000 metric tons of plastic
waste to source.

Malaysia would like to offer solutions regarding this matter.

1 For countries to apply possible regulations in order to reduce plastic usage.

2 For the council to make a resolution which should be signed upon by all country
3 For countries who still in need for better plastic management to be monitored and
to be given help in facilities.