Plastic leakage from land-based activities remains a major contributor to marine plastic pollution across ASEAN. Beyond improper disposal and inadequate waste collection systems, recycling activities and facilities may also contribute to environmental leakage due to insufficient operational standards, outdated technologies, and limited access to information and resources. In many areas, the informal recycling sector plays a critical role in waste recovery, yet often operates with limited technical guidance and institutional support.

These guidelines were developed to promote best practices and practical measures for preventing plastics and resin pellet leakage from recycling and waste management activities. Drawing insights from the Lao PDR, Thailand, the Philippines, and Viet Nam, the guidelines aim to support policymakers, recycling actors, and informal waste sectors in improving recycling systems, strengthening operational practices, and reducing leakage into terrestrial and marine environments.

This guidelines is published by the Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RRC.AP) of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) with support from ERIA's Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris under the project "Development and Dissemination of Technical Guidelines for Plastics and Resin Pellets Leakage Prevention from Factories and Informal Recycling Sector in the ASEAN".