Plastic Pollution Prevention in Timor-Leste: Gap Analysis of Current Legislation, Policies, and Plans
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2023-06-01
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SPREP
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Abstract
Plastics comprise sixty to eighty percent of all marine litter globally, with millions of metric tonnes
originating from land-based sources every year (Borrelle et al., 2020; PEMSEA, 2020). An estimated
11% of plastic waste generated globally are mismanaged and enter freshwater and marine
environments, equating to 86,740 metric tonnes (Mt) every day (Borrelle et al., 2020). If current
production and waste management trends continue, roughly 12,000 Mt of plastic waste will be in
landfills or in the natural environment by 2050 (Geyer, Jambeck & Law, 2017, p. e1700782). Small
Island Developing States (SIDS) such as Timor-Leste are disproportionately impacted.
Timor-Leste is currently experiencing disastrous impacts to marine ecosystems, health related
problems and destruction of biodiversity due to the alarming increase of land- and marine-based
plastic pollution. In Timor-Leste, approximately thirteen percent of the waste stream is made up of
plastic. The Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility (PRIF) estimated that approximately 20.7Mt of plastic
waste was released in the waters around Timor-Leste in 2010, with the amount expected to rise to
64.2Mt by 2025 (PRIF, 2018). Mismanaged plastic waste because of poor waste infrastructure and
failed landfills is transported by wind, waste-water outfalls, and inland rivers, much of which
eventually enters waterways, land and soil, and the marine environment (PRIF, 2018). Consequently,
the government committed to eliminating plastics from the natural environment by 2023 through the
ambitious ‘Zero Plastic Timor-Leste’ campaign. It was a goal in name only, as it is not close to being
achieved as of 2023.
This report aims to provide insight into Timor-Leste's capacity to implement plastic pollution reduction
measures by providing a gap analysis of its current legislation, plans and policies. The research finds
significant gaps in all analytical categories. Most alarming are the gaps that exist under the waste
prevention, microplastics, and protection of human health themes. Findings suggest that the current
institutional framework cannot protect human and environmental health, including human rights and
biological diversity. The protection of Timor-Leste’s environment through the elimination of the
discharges of plastics into the environment will only be possible through extensive amendments to
legislation and policy frameworks that prioritise prevention through strict import rules, and supported
by an effective international global treaty on plastic pollution that mandates that mandates core
obligations, control measures, and impPlastics comprise sixty to eighty percent of all marine litter globally, with millions of metric tonnes
originating from land-based sources every year (Borrelle et al., 2020; PEMSEA, 2020). An estimated
11% of plastic waste generated globally are mismanaged and enter freshwater and marine
environments, equating to 86,740 metric tonnes (Mt) every day (Borrelle et al., 2020). If current
production and waste management trends continue, roughly 12,000 Mt of plastic waste will be in
landfills or in the natural environment by 2050 (Geyer, Jambeck & Law, 2017, p. e1700782). Small
Island Developing States (SIDS) such as Timor-Leste are disproportionately impacted.
Timor-Leste is currently experiencing disastrous impacts to marine ecosystems, health related
problems and destruction of biodiversity due to the alarming increase of land- and marine-based
plastic pollution. In Timor-Leste, approximately thirteen percent of the waste stream is made up of
plastic. The Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility (PRIF) estimated that approximately 20.7Mt of plastic
waste was released in the waters around Timor-Leste in 2010, with the amount expected to rise to
64.2Mt by 2025 (PRIF, 2018). Mismanaged plastic waste because of poor waste infrastructure and
failed landfills is transported by wind, waste-water outfalls, and inland rivers, much of which
eventually enters waterways, land and soil, and the marine environment (PRIF, 2018). Consequently,
the government committed to eliminating plastics from the natural environment by 2023 through the
ambitious ‘Zero Plastic Timor-Leste’ campaign. It was a goal in name only, as it is not close to being
achieved as of 2023.
This report aims to provide insight into Timor-Leste's capacity to implement plastic pollution reduction
measures by providing a gap analysis of its current legislation, plans and policies. The research finds
significant gaps in all analytical categories. Most alarming are the gaps that exist under the waste
prevention, microplastics, and protection of human health themes. Findings suggest that the current
institutional framework cannot protect human and environmental health, including human rights and
biological diversity. The protection of Timor-Leste’s environment through the elimination of the
discharges of plastics into the environment will only be possible through extensive amendments to
legislation and policy frameworks that prioritise prevention through strict import rules, and supported
by an effective international global treaty on plastic pollution that mandates that mandates core
obligations, control measures, and impPlastics comprise sixty to eighty percent of all marine litter globally, with millions of metric tonnes
originating from land-based sources every year (Borrelle et al., 2020; PEMSEA, 2020). An estimated
11% of plastic waste generated globally are mismanaged and enter freshwater and marine
environments, equating to 86,740 metric tonnes (Mt) every day (Borrelle et al., 2020). If current
production and waste management trends continue, roughly 12,000 Mt of plastic waste will be in
landfills or in the natural environment by 2050 (Geyer, Jambeck & Law, 2017, p. e1700782). Small
Island Developing States (SIDS) such as Timor-Leste are disproportionately impacted.
Timor-Leste is currently experiencing disastrous impacts to marine ecosystems, health related
problems and destruction of biodiversity due to the alarming increase of land- and marine-based
plastic pollution. In Timor-Leste, approximately thirteen percent of the waste stream is made up of
plastic. The Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility (PRIF) estimated that approximately 20.7Mt of plastic
waste was released in the waters around Timor-Leste in 2010, with the amount expected to rise to
64.2Mt by 2025 (PRIF, 2018). Mismanaged plastic waste because of poor waste infrastructure and
failed landfills is transported by wind, waste-water outfalls, and inland rivers, much of which
eventually enters waterways, land and soil, and the marine environment (PRIF, 2018). Consequently,
the government committed to eliminating plastics from the natural environment by 2023 through the
ambitious ‘Zero Plastic Timor-Leste’ campaign. It was a goal in name only, as it is not close to being
achieved as of 2023.
This report aims to provide insight into Timor-Leste's capacity to implement plastic pollution reduction
measures by providing a gap analysis of its current legislation, plans and policies. The research finds
significant gaps in all analytical categories. Most alarming are the gaps that exist under the waste
prevention, microplastics, and protection of human health themes. Findings suggest that the current
institutional framework cannot protect human and environmental health, including human rights and
biological diversity. The protection of Timor-Leste’s environment through the elimination of the
discharges of plastics into the environment will only be possible through extensive amendments to
legislation and policy frameworks that prioritise prevention through strict import rules, and supported
by an effective international global treaty on plastic pollution that mandates that mandates core
obligations, control measures, and implementation measures for the elimination of plastic pollution
at all stages of the plastics life cycle.
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Citation
Plastic Pollution Prevention in Timor-Leste: Gap Analysis of Current Legislation, Policies, and Plans, 2023, pp. 1 - 67