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Malaysia Effectively Bans Shipments of U.S. Plastic Waste
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Should single-use plastics be banned?
Should single-use plastics be banned?
Should single-use plastics be banned? Plastic bottles at a landfill.

Malaysia Effectively Bans Shipments of U.S. Plastic Waste

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ProCon Debate: Should Single-Use Plastics Be Banned?

ProCon Issue in the News: According to recent data, the United States produced about 35 million tons of plastic in 2018, but only about 3 million tons of it were recycled, and about 5.6 million tons were burned. That left some 26 million tons of plastic destined for landfills. The United States has sent plastic waste overseas to countries such as Malaysia for recycling or depositing into landfills since at least 1992.

In 2024 Malaysia received more plastic waste from wealthy countries—including more than 35,000 tons from the United States—than any other developing country. Additionally, Malaysia seized more than 100 shipping containers of toxic e-waste that were improperly labeled as raw materials in order to sidestep trade control laws; the containers were shipped from Los Angeles to illegal smelters operated by Chinese gangs.

Malaysia responded by amending its Customs Act so that it receives shipments only from countries that are parties to the Basel Convention, which regulates the international trade of hazardous waste. The United States signed the Basel Convention in 1990, but it has not ratified the convention because Congress does not have the authority to implement all of the requirements. Thus, the United States is just an observer to the convention, not a party. This amendment alone effectively bans the United States from shipping plastic waste to Malaysia.

However, the country further amended its Customs Act to state that only waste with one type of plastic will be accepted to ensure recyclability. As the Malaysian environment minister, Nik Nazmi, said, “We do not want Malaysia to be the world’s rubbish bin.”

According to environmental expert Kate O’Neill, Malaysia’s ban could mean that plastic waste will start flowing to other countries that are less able to handle the waste, and the situation will need to be monitored. She told The New York Times, “The recycling industry still hasn’t caught up with the disruption, so these exports are still needed.”

Currently, the United States recycles less than 10 percent of its plastic waste because food contamination and the mix of plastics used make most plastic nonrecyclable. The remaining plastic waste is burned, dumped in American landfills, or shipped to other countries.

Discussion Questions

  1. Should single-use plastics be banned? Why or why not?
  2. Should all plastic manufactured be recyclable? Explain your answer.
  3. What should wealthy countries, including the United States, do with waste that cannot be recycled? Explain your answer.

Sources

  • Hadi Azmi, “ ‘Not World’s Rubbish Bin’: Malaysia E-waste Seizure Raises Fears of Renewed Criminal Trade” (June 26, 2024), scmp.com
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Plastics: Material-Specific Data” (updated November 21, 2024), epa.gov
  • Jan Dell, “157,000 Shipping Containers of U.S. Plastic Waste Exported to Countries with Poor Waste Management in 2018” (March 6, 2019), plasticpollutioncoalition.org
  • Hiroko Tabuchi and Zunaira Saieed, “The U.S. Sends Lots of Plastic Trash Overseas. Malaysia Just Said No Thanks.” (July 1, 2025), nytimes.com
  • U.S. Department of State, “Basel Convention on Hazardous Waste” (accessed July 10, 2025), state.gov