Australia's plastic exports may deepen health risks in Indonesian communities
A new commentary in BMJ Global Health, co-authored by the George Institute, reveals that Australia exported 22,333 metric tons of plastic waste to Indonesia in 2023–24 alone, part of a wider crisis that has seen the country take in more than 200,000 metric tons of imported waste it cannot safely process. Up to 80% of it ends up burned or dumped.
A new commentary in BMJ Global Health highlights that Australia recently exported 22,333 metric tons of plastic waste to Indonesia, exacerbating the health risks faced by Indonesian communities. This waste, which exceeds Indonesia's processing capabilities, is often burned or dumped, leading to microplastic pollution and exposure to hazardous pollutants.
Up to 80% of this waste ends up in unsafe disposal methods, negatively impacting the respiratory health, cardiovascular wellbeing, and cancer risk of those living near burning sites. Laura Downey, a researcher at the George Institute for Global Health, points out that Australia, while providing health aid to Indonesia, also contributes significantly to the problem by exporting waste that harms the very communities the aid aims to support.
The Albanese government's recent signing of a new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Indonesia, touted as a "new era" in the relationship, presents an opportunity to address plastic waste as a critical health security issue. Researchers argue that this waste trade should be acknowledged in the partnership to ensure health security across the region.
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