The Role of Trade Policy in Plastic Waste Management

With miniscule recycling of plastic waste that not only leads to hazardous health and environmental consequences but also its trade, both legal and illegal which has become a great challenge to the global economy; this paper aims to highlight the discussion on the issue of plastic waste trade and its global consequences. Starting with a brief introduction to plastics and the effect of plastic use and disposal to the environment, the paper shifts its focus to analysis of the existing trade policy around plastic waste trade, the reasons behind its current directionality as well as the challenges involved, especially for the countries importing plastic waste. It acknowledges the importance of various stakeholders and their role in addressing this issue, not only at the disposal stage of plastic value chain, but across it. The paper then concludes re-emphasising the crucial role trade policy can and should play while listing three key recommendations.