• Waste Management during COVID-19

    09 July 2020

    The RKC-MPD team has recently launched a policy brief titled "Strengthening Waste Management Policies to Mitigate the COVID-19 Pandemic," which highlights the importance of ASEAN countries to strengthen their waste management policies in order to ensure the healthy environment without leaving no one's health behind.

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  • ERIA Celebrates The Earth Day 2020

    22 April 2020

    In honour of Earth Day 2020, ERIA presents a 3-minute primer on marine plastic debris in ASEAN+3 countries. The video also provides an insight into ERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris launched on 1 October 2019.

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  • National Framework to Tackle Marine Plastic Debris

    24 November 2019

    To tackle marine plastic debris issue, actions by various ministries in charge of marine plastic debris and others should be coordinated. Various laws, regulations, action plans, and roadmaps should be implemented.

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ABOUT US

REGIONAL KNOWLEDGE CENTRE FOR MARINE PLASTIC DEBRIS

Various documents emphasising the importance of sharing knowledge and capacity development related to marine plastic debris have been produced by the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and others. One of them is the ASEAN+3 Marine Plastics Debris Cooperative Action Initiative, which states best use of existing institutions such as Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), for sharing knowledge and capacity development. The initiative was welcomed by the ASEAN+3 Summit (10 ASEAN Member States, China, Japan, and Republic of Korea) in November 2018. With support from the Government of Japan and others, ERIA established on 01 October 2019 the Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (RKC-MPD), an information clearinghouse on marine plastic debris in ASEAN+3 countries.

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BACKGROUND

ASEAN countries are a major source of marine plastics and have initiated actions to reduce them. Indonesia developed the Indonesia’s Plan of Action on Marine Plastic Debris 2017–2025 in May 2017.

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OBJECTIVES

The Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (RKC-MPD) is a clearinghouse for information on marine plastic debris in ASEAN+3 countries. RKC-MPD facilitates networking among stakeholders, raises awareness, promotes innovative actions in each county, and facilitates national and regional cooperation to solve the marine plastic debris problem.

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RECENT UPDATES

Marine Lives Matter: Plastic Bag Bans in Japan and Jakarta and Further Actions to Reduce Marine Plastics

by Michikazu Kojima, Ellen Putri Edita, Hendro Putra Johannes, Fusanori Iwasaki • 19 August 2020

Both Japan and Jakarta, Indonesia implemented new bans on single-use plastic shopping bags on July 1, 2020. However, enforcing these regulations is not been without challenges.

 

ERIA-AIPA Online Joint Dialogue on Waste Management in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic

by Ellen Putri Edita and Hendro Putra Johannes • 13 July 2020

Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) has held an Online Joint Dialogue on Waste Management in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic. 

 

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GOOD PRACTICES

National Framework to Tackle Marine Plastic Debris

Solving the issue of marine litter requires the involvement and cooperation of ministries in charge of fishery, coastal and river management, land-based waste management, industries producing and using plastics, recycling industries, and others.

Government Initiatives

To prevent marine plastic litter, various policies, such as reducing the use of single-use plastics, preventing littering, expanding waste collection services, and recycling, have been applied in this region.

Scientific Knowledge

There is still a lack of reliable data and short of scientific knowledge on marine plastic debris. Although we should take some actions, based on the precautionary principle, we also need to enrich scientific knowledge in various fields.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

FEB

22

Fifth Session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5)

9 AM to 6 PM

Nairobi, Kenya

 

 

 

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PUBLICATIONS

  • Strengthening Waste Management Policies to Mitigate the COVID-19 Pandemic

    by Michikazu Kojima, Fusanori Iwasaki, Hendro Putra Johannes, Ellen Putri Edita | July 2020

    The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has raised issues with waste management. In Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, the increasing amount of medical waste during the pandemic is not in line with the availability of waste management facilities. Furthermore, the amount of plastic waste is also rising because people rely more on food delivery services. In this difficult situation, it is crucial for ASEAN countries to strengthen their waste management policies.

  • Plastic Recycling: Policies and Good Practices in Asia

    by Michikazu Kojima | March 2019

    The need for a circular economy for plastics has become a global concern. Plastic marine litter has been recognised as a global environmental issue, and many countries have introduced policies to reduce single-use plastics. Recycling of plastic waste should also be strengthened to reduce plastic marine litter. This report aims to provide basic information and policies on plastic recycling, including good practices in Asian countries.

  • Sustainable Marine Development

    by Fauziah Zen, Heru Santoso, Maxensius Sambodo, Michikazu Kojima | September 2019

    Indonesia has the largest economic exclusive zone in Asia, and Japan the second largest. Marine resources are their main development assets. Indonesia and Japan rely on marine logistics and fisheries, of which infrastructure and connectivity are important aspects. Both countries are prone to disasters, including tsunamis, and should improve their disaster management. And both countries should improve their waste management to eliminate marine debris and pollution.

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