“South Asian countries need to develop formal systems and data to identify current waste management systems, they need to implement plastics ban, and they need to move toward circular plastic economy.”

South Asia is the second largest contributor to global plastic waste.  It generates 334 million metric tons of solid waste every year. Nearly 70 to 80 % of this waste ends up in the ocean- 12 % is plastic.  On current trends, if no action is taken, the amount of mismanaged waste (including plastic) across South Asia is projected to double to 661 million tons by 2050, adversely affecting the region’s ocean ecosystems, livelihoods, human health, and sustainable development more broadly.

South Asia is also at the forefront of innovation to combat marine plastic pollution and the region needs a collective response to plastic pollution-which is both national and transboundary in nature.  As a part of World Bank’s campaign to position marine plastics pollution as critical and urgent development issue, the South Asia  Regional Integration, Cooperation and Engagement Program, collaborated with the Y2Y Community of Young Professionals at the World Bank, to bring in youth voices and innovative ideas.