The danger of the ocean

The survey showed that Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam dumped more plastic waste into the sea than all the rest of the world combined.

Recently, it has been pressing for many people. The fish swallowed 85 plastic bags because it was mistaken for food. Many individuals of sea turtles and dugongs have died for the same reason. In March, netizens were taken aback by the video filmed by British swimmer Rich Horner as he swam across the 'garbage beach' near Bali island, Indonesia.

These ominous incidents have made the world pay more attention to plastic garbage disaster. Britain, China and Chile began to protest using nylon bags. Businesses like Starbucks also face pressure on plastic straws.

However, in Asia, where 80% of plastic waste is emitted at sea, efforts to treat pollution are inadequate, even almost nonexistent.

The price of development lacks control

According to the report of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), about 8-13 million tons of plastic waste is dumped into the sea every year, estimated damage to the ecosystem is up to 13 billion USD. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said: 'More than a quarter of the ocean plastic waste comes from 10 rivers, 8 of which are in Asia'.

Garbage piled up in the river in Cambodia.(Photo: Nikkei Asian Review).

'This year, we began to actively protect marine biodiversity after some members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were identified as the most polluting entities' , Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim, executive director of the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity, said.

In 2017, the Ocean Conservancy discovered Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam dumped more plastic waste into the sea than all the rest of the world combined.

Southeast Asia's rapid economic growth is accompanied by a boom in production and consumption of rampant plastic. When tourism reaches even the most secluded beaches, plastic bottles appear everywhere and straws come with every drink.

One day, Thai people use about 8 plastic bags, meaning that Bangkok consumes more than 500 million bags per week. Singaporeans also use more, 13 bags / day.

Meanwhile, the local government is in charge of garbage collection but lacks both funds and knowledge of recycling. Garbage gathered in outdoor yards faces risks from rain, landslides and floods. A significant part then followed the river to the sea.

A typical example is Myanmar. Here, plastic bags along the river, drifting out to sea in the rainy season and drifting to Ngapali beach, the place was named the most beautiful beach in Asia in 2016. 'I fear that Ngapali will be devastated by environmental pollution. ' , Ohnmar Khin, Sandoway resort owner, shared.

Children pick up plastic bottles on Buriganga River in Dhaka, Bangladesh.(Photo: Getty).

Plastic everywhere

The Arctic Sunrise ship of Greenpeace (Greenpeace) confirms micro-plastic particles exist in Antarctic water and ice, and also detects lots of waste from fishing activities here. Ellen MacArthur's Fund predicts that in the next 30 years, the ocean will have more plastic than fish.

'Even the "largest wilderness in the world" has also been contaminated by micro-plastic particles and chemicals, "said Louisa Casson of Greenpeace.

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), about 640,000 tons of fishing nets were left at sea. They can drift thousands of kilometers away, get into animals or cover corals. 80% of the nets found in Australia originate in Southeast Asia.

However, ASEAN recently became aware of the plastic crisis. In early July, the Jakarta Secretariat issued a statement saying 'ASEAN participates in the movement against plastic pollution'.

However, the current moves are not sufficient and fragmented. Dr. Lim emphasized that ASEAN has no campaign or mechanism to force members to solve problems. She hopes the conference of senior environmental officials in Singapore this year will prioritize the content of protecting marine biodiversity.

'As waste passes through the political boundaries, pollution cannot be solved only at the national level,' he said.

Reaction is delayed, effort is like salt

In 2016, Indonesia tested a fee of 200 rupiah (more than 320 VND) with nylon bags in big cities and reduced consumption by 55%. However, consumer complaints have hindered policy expansion.

Malaysia has also begun to ban foam boxes and encourage recycling, but households still dump garbage on collection sites without incinerators. According to Jerker Tamelander at UNEP, 'incinerators play a big role in the less waste-to-society transition' although these are not 'panacea' because they emit CO2.

Homemade raft children to collect plastic bottles on the shores of Manila Bay, Philippines.(Photo: Reuters).

Thailand is operating garbage burning stations in Phuket, Songkhla and Phitsanulok. In 2017, the country produced 171 MW from waste. The target of 2036 is 550 MW, equivalent to 2.8% of total electricity output. However, at seafood farms, plastic garbage still floats. Officials have closed Maya Bay and Phuket for 4 months due to overloaded and polluted tourists. Meanwhile, Koh Larn off Pattaya receives 10,000 visitors a day and piles 50,000 tons of garbage.

In the period of 1970-2016, the amount of garbage in Singapore increased 7 times, reaching 8,559 tons / day. In 2000, the country inaugurated the world's largest incinerator with a capacity of 4,320 tons / day built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Energy burning activities are creating business opportunities. It is expected that many similar facilities will soon appear in the future.

However, improving management and effective recycling activities is at the core of the crisis. Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates that only 14% of plastic waste worldwide is recycled annually.

According to Tamelander, plastic micro particles are found in filtered seafood like mussels. Plastics contain compounds that are harmful to humans but the consequences of human consumption indirectly from the food chain are not clear.

'Seabirds swallowed trash or turtles trapped in nylon bags have become symbols of serious waste problems in the ocean, but greater dangers may be latent in an unseen place. Science has just begun to explore this problem, ' said Michael Gross, a British researcher.