In 2018, China's National Sword Policy came into effect, which banned 24 types of solid waste imports into the country. This included plastic waste, which then caused a global disruption of the market for recyclable material. It also led to the redirection of plastic waste to Southeast Asia, and from January to July 2018, Malaysia became the world's top destination for plastic waste exports. This influx led to a sharp rise in illegal recycling facilities and illegal dumpsites, causing land, water and air pollution. The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) kicked off research on this issue, and recently launched their findings, which we discuss with Wong Pui Yi, a researcher with the C4 Center, and Heng Kiah Chun, a campaigner with Greenpeace Malaysia. They will also share why the time is ripe to demand accountability and transparency from our governments and businesses.

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