3 BILLION PODCAST SERIES
Setting up plastic recycling systems is difficult. Like, really difficult. Especially on a national scale. In our latest series, Plastic First Mile, we travel to different parts of Asia to understand what it takes for a circular economy to become a reality instead of just a dream. From Taiwan to Indonesia, journey with us as we get to the bottom of what really happens to your bottle after you throw it in the trash.
EPISODE 1
TAIWAN — GOLD STANDARD FOR RECYCLING
2 JUNE 2020
Taiwan went from being nicknamed “Trash Island” to becoming the world’s premier supplier of PET recycled plastic. What did it take to get there? We walk through Taiwan’s unique approach to getting plastic beverage bottles from the hands of consumers and to plastic recycling plants – with a bit of education, love for the environment, and a few key government incentives.
EPISODE 2
THE HONG KONG ALLIANCE SOLVING PLASTIC WASTE
9 JUNE 2020
When it comes to plastic recycling, Hong Kong is falling behind. In the face of government inaction, local groups are stepping in to fill the gaps. In this episode, we look at the alliance Drink without Waste – a group of over 40 organisations in Hong Kong involved in plastic beverage waste.
EPISODE 3
CAN PLASTIC RECYCLING BECOME REALITY IN HONG KONG?
17 JUNE 2020
Hong Kong’s tall buildings, narrow streets and small retailers present a challenge for plastic beverage bottle collection and recycling. In this episode, we continue the story of Hong Kong’s Drink without Waste consortium, which has narrowed down on the best solutions to the city’s currently lacking plastic recycling system.
EPISODE 4
PLASTIC PURGE IN BALI
Bali’s natural beauty attracts many tourists from around the world, but with that comes a lotof waste. In this episode, we speak with several people working at McKinsey.org to understand how they developed a plastic bottle recycling pilot program in Bali… that may change the course of waste collection and recycling across all of Indonesia.
EPISODE 5
INDONESIA’S OCEAN PLASTIC CLEANUP PLAN
Indonesia has more than 3 million tons of plastic leaking into the ocean every year. Its government announced a plan to cut marine plastic waste by 70% by 2025, so they reached out to the World Economic Forum’s plastic waste initiative for help. But who are the women driving this process and how are they going to put Indonesia on a roadmap to solve their plastic waste dilemma?
EPISODE 6
CHINA’S PLASTIC RECYCLING CHALLENGE
The way Chinese cities are handling plastic waste is changing dramatically – with new household waste separation rules starting in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. There are interesting projects, along with updated waste management laws, designed to encourage increased recycling and better waste separation. But, will this be enough to tackle the insurmountable disposable plastic waste crisis?
EPISODE 7
ASIA’S PLASTIC FIRST MILE – A REVIEW
Over this season, we’ve explored how the problem of the Plastic First Mile is being tackled in countries across Asia. In the final episode of the season, we explore the bigger picture. We speak to Doug Woodring of Ocean Recovery Alliance and Brenda Haitema of First Mile about the state of plastic recycling in Asia, the challenges of financing small and large waste infrastructure, and the future of material recovery in the region.