Plastic pollution in Indonesia and the Philippines: current status and upcoming knowledge needs

Abstract

Research on plastic leakage and marine debris has developed significantly the last few years, but our knowledge on the scope of the problem, environmental and societal effects, and potential solutions is still limited. Accurate data on plastic waste generation, leakage to rivers and waterways, and total flux to the marine environment is lacking. The ASEAN-Norwegian cooperation project on local capacity building for reducing plastic pollution in the ASEAN region (ASEANO) provides research and knowledge to develop regional reduction measures and actions necessary for a global decrease of plastic waste pollution. Here, a summary of waste management, frameworks and environmental awareness in Indonesia and the Philippines is presented, in addition to an overview of relevant industries for plastic waste. Finally, we point to key future knowledge needs for effects on plastic pollution reduction to be seen globally.