Philippines Port Official Says International Commission Might Slow Growth of Illegal Garbage Trade

The recent growth in the illegal transport of garbage may soon require more attention from the international community, said Col. John Simon, who works for the Philippines Bureau of Customs, in the latest issue of the World Customs Organization magazine. "Given the scale of the illicit trade emanating from South Korea, a Philippines-Korean Anti Waste Commission could, for example, be established to ensure that enforcement services at Philippine ports are properly trained and equipped to detect illicit importations of waste, enabling such waste to be swiftly repatriated to the country of export," he said. "Such commissions should be composed of dedicated representatives from both the public and private sectors and, besides enforcement, should also carry out public education programmes and, more importantly, work on how to improve global waste management on both sides of the equation." Many Southeast Asian countries have been grappling with the issue since China banned most imports of plastic scrap, Simon said.