It is well known that Asia generates and receives large quantities of plastic waste. Through a detailed study of plastic waste generation and trade, the management and treatment of plastic waste in Asia were analyzed from the regional perspective. The amounts of plastic waste in municipal solid waste and in industrial solid waste were estimated to be 79 Mt and 42 Mt, respectively, in Asia. The overall treatment and recycling status in Asia are unsatisfactory. Asia imported 74% of the plastic waste in the world in 2016, and China (mainland) imported the most plastic waste until 2017, with 5.8 to 8.3 Mt. In 2017, about half the plastic waste imported by Asia came from other regions, and after subtracting the exported quantity, 98% of the plastic waste was left in Asia for treatment and disposal. The plastic waste imported by Asia declined about 72% in monetary value in 2018. There is still a large gap between the plastic waste quantity imported to Asia and that exported from Asia. China’s ban of plastic waste imports caused import quantities to drop to 52 kt in 2018, simultaneously, exports from the largest exporting countries or regions such as Hong Kong (China), the USA, Japan, and Germany decreased. While Vietnam, Malaysia and some other Asian countries and regions saw significant increases in plastic waste imports from 2016 to 2018. Considering this situation, countries in Asia are starting to strictly limit plastic waste imports from other countries.

۱٫ Introduction

Plastics, with their remarkable properties, have become a major commodity on a global scale, and are now present in almost all types of commercial products. Global production of resins and fibers increased from 2 Mt in 1950 to 380 Mt in 2015 (Geyer et al., 2017). However, the use of plastics has also brought adverse environmental impacts associated with their production and disposal. It was reported that the world generated 242 Mt of plastic waste in 2016 (Kaza and Yao, 2018). From 1950 to 2015, an estimated total of 6.30 billion tons of plastic waste was generated, with only 9% recycled, leaving more than 80% to accumulate in landfills or in the natural environment (Brooks et al., 2018). Plastic waste now makes up the majority of marine litter. Under ultraviolet light from the sun, plastic is degrading into plastic fragments or even ‘‘microplastics” that are almost impossible to recover and that are disrupting food chains and degrading natural habitats (NOAA, 2017).