The Links Between Plastic Pollution and Corruption

From January to July 2018, Malaysia became the world's top destination for plastic waste exports. Even today, we are still reeling from pollution and effects caused by other countries’ waste - a sharp rise in illegal recycling facilities and illegal dumpsites, and land, water and air pollution. The C4 Center or the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism's research into the issue found that the problems plaguing the plastic recycling industry include allegations of smuggling, factories operating with no proper license and pollution controls, gangsterism, political-business nexus, and a lack of public access to information. How can Malaysia hope to clean up plastic pollution - and tackle the corruption that's also causing it? In conjunction with Plastic-Free July, we discuss this and more with  Wong Pui Yi, a researcher with the C4 Center.

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