About the project
The Asia Pacific Plastic Waste Project (APPWP) aims to strengthen the capacity of Customs administrations to mitigate and appropriately respond to environmental threats in the Asia-Pacific region. In particular, the focus is placed on the implementation of the Basel Convention, and specifically on matters related to plastic waste and the illegal shipment thereof.
The project runs from April 2020 – March 2022 (phase I) and after being extended, from April 2022 - June 2023 (phase II).
Project beneficiaries are the Customs Administrations of:
- Vietnam
- Indonesia
- Philippines
- Sri Lanka
Within the second phase of the project, the following Customs Administrations also have been invited to join the project:
- Thailand
- Lao PDR
- Cambodia
- Malaysia
The Project is led by the WCO Secretariat and funded by the Government of Japan.
Project aims
- Enhancing Customs officers’ capacities to deal with illegal plastic waste
- Enhancing Customs to Customs cooperation
- Promoting a regional approach for the cross-border trade in plastic waste and recyclables
- Providing capacity building
Project activities and deliverables
- Diagnostic missions in the beneficiary countries to assess Members’ practices in dealing with the transboundary movements of plastic waste
- National implementation plans for the beneficiary countries
- Development of capacity building materials
- Online country factsheets on rules and procedures for cross-border plastic trade
- Organization of national workshops and of a regional training in cooperation with other international organizations
- Regional action plan for the cross-border trade in plastic waste and recyclables.
A Regional Plastic Waste Conference to create awareness and chart a way forward for mitigating the risks associated with plastic waste was held on 24-25 February 2022. A Regional Plastic Waste Workshop will be held in April 2023 (dates to be confirmed).