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The Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT RRC.AP), with the support of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia-Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (ERIA RKC-MPD) and the facilitation of the ASEAN Secretariat, successfully convened the CaRMPAC Regional Dissemination and Synthesis Workshop. The two-day event, held at The Sukosol Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, marked the closing regional event of the Capacity Building Programme for Reducing Recycling-Related Marine Plastic Pollution in ASEAN Cities (CaRMPAC).

The workshop brought together participants, comprising city and provincial government officers, academic partners, and delegates from 12 participating cities across five ASEAN Member States. The participating cities included Iligan, Iloilo, Khon Kaen, Ho Chi Minh City, Denpasar (Bali), Bandung (West Java), Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Bangkok, Hanoi, Nonthaburi, and Medan. Iloilo City participated in the sessions online.

During the opening remarks, Dr. Guilberto Borongan, Director of AIT RRC.AP, highlighted the evolution of the CaRMPAC journey from the initial development of technical guidelines to a comprehensive 12-city rollout over 17 months. He emphasized the need to transition from city-level learning to regional-level insights. Mr. Keitaro Tsuji, Director for Environmental Policy and Director of ERIA RKC-MPD, encouraged participants to openly share their real-world constraints, acknowledging that the most valuable contributions often address the gap between formal regulations and on-the-ground enforcement.

Representatives from each of the twelve participating cities delivered detailed presentations structured around five common themes: local waste baselines, identified leakage hotspots, actions taken, remaining challenges, and specific regional asks. City presentations unpacked common operational realities: high-density urban and coastal cities detailed how low-value single-use packaging and unsegregated waste frequently leak into urban canals and river networks, while cities with prominent informal sectors emphasized sorting bottlenecks, open storage hazards, and limited processing infrastructure. Cities also shared local solutions. Across all presentations, delegates reiterated an urgent need for technical assistance, financial mechanisms for non-recyclable fractions, and standardized data collection protocols.

A core highlight of the workshop was the cross-city synthesis session, which consolidated findings from each of the twelve participating cities to demonstrate shared configurations and challenges common across the region. The evidence base for this presentation was drawn directly from the comprehensive findings of the 12-city workshop rollout, which was delivered over 17 months between March 2025 and August 2026. The presentation highlighted a catalogue of common findings from 12 cities, best practices observed in these cities, and identified enabling factors to help cities improve their waste systems.

Day 2 of the workshop transitioned from plenary discussions to practical observations with field visits to two key facilities. Participants first visited Indorama Polyester Industries, an integrated post-consumer PET recycling plant in Nakhon Pathom. This visit demonstrated a large-scale, closed-loop processing operation, complete with effluent treatment and zero waste to landfill protocols.

Following this, the delegation toured the M.N. Recycling Facility, a local buy-back center in Nonthaburi. This facility illustrated the essential role of mid-tier collection centers in aggregating and sorting recyclable waste from informal networks before the materials reach industrial-scale processors.

The workshop concluded with a strong consensus on the need to sustain the CaRMPAC network. Through these sustained efforts, AIT RRC.AP continues to support ASEAN cities in advancing practical solutions, improving local capacity, and fostering regional collaboration to combat marine plastic pollution.

Twenty-seven representatives from government agencies, academia, recycling enterprises, waste banks, community organisations and the private sector participated in a two-day capacity-building workshop on preventing plastic leakage from recycling activities.

The Department of Environmental Engineering at Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), in collaboration with the North Sumatra Provincial Environment and Forestry Agency, hosted the workshop under the Capacity Building Programme for Reducing Recycling-Related Marine Plastic Pollution in ASEAN Cities (CaRMPAC). The programme is implemented by the Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT RRC.AP), with support from ERIA's Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris and facilitation by the ASEAN Secretariat.

The opening session began with remarks by Dr. Guilberto Borongan, Director of AIT RRC.AP, followed by Keitaro Tsuji, Director for Environmental Policy and Director of ERIA's Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris, and Dr. Ahmad Ari Pandi Harahap, Head of the North Sumatra Provincial Environment Agency. The session concluded with welcome remarks by Dr. Zaid Perdana Nasution, Vice Dean of USU's Faculty of Engineering.

The workshop combined technical sessions, field visits and stakeholder dialogue to strengthen participants' understanding of plastic-leakage pathways and practical prevention measures. Presentations by USU and AIT RRC.AP examined local waste-management challenges, leakage risks across formal and informal recycling operations, behavioural-change approaches, and policy and technical measures for improving recycling practices.

Participants also visited USU's Integrated Waste Treatment Facility to observe waste segregation, composting, black soldier fly cultivation and plastic treatment processes. Further visits to the Tzu Chi Foundation's community-based collection centre and Recyclo Goods demonstrated how recovered plastics can be sorted, processed and transformed into marketable products.

Through four focus group discussions, participants identified priority actions for preventing plastic leakage and illegal dumping. These included stronger enforcement of waste-management regulations, improved monitoring and public reporting systems, reliable waste collection services, and wider provision of segregated bins and 3R-based waste stations. Participants also recommended greater institutional support and incentives for waste banks, stronger partnerships between recyclers and manufacturers, and more stable markets for recovered materials.

Public education and behavioural change were identified as equally important. Participants called for sustained awareness programmes promoting household waste segregation, reduced use of single-use plastics, greater uptake of reusable products, and active public reporting of illegal dumping.

The workshop concluded that preventing plastic leakage requires coordinated action by local governments, recycling enterprises and communities. Effective policies and infrastructure must be supported by monitoring, public participation, technical capacity and viable markets for recovered materials. The recommendations generated in Medan will contribute to wider knowledge exchange and locally led action under CaRMPAC across ASEAN cities.

The Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT RRC.AP), together with Nonthaburi Municipality and ERIA Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (ERIA RKC-MPD), convened a capacity building workshop on preventing recycling-related plastic leakage on 14 August 2026 at the Grand Richmond Hotel, Nonthaburi. Held under the Capacity Building Programme for Reducing Recycling-Related Marine Plastic Pollution in ASEAN Cities (CaRMPAC), the workshop brought together representatives from Nonthaburi Municipality and relevant local stakeholders to strengthen technical knowledge and practical skills for preventing plastic and pellet leakage from recycling operations into the environment.

The workshop opened with welcome remarks from Mr. Nipon Sakulweerawan, Vice Mayor of Nonthaburi City, who highlighted the city's growing waste management challenges amid rapid economic and social growth, and expressed hope for a productive workshop. Dr. Guilberto Borongan, Director of AIT RRC.AP, delivered opening remarks noting that plastic leakage risks persist across every stage of the recycling process, from handling and sorting to final disposal. Mr. Keitaro Tsuji, Director of ERIA RKC-MPD, joined virtually to deliver opening remarks, citing Nonthaburi's high volume of municipal waste and stressing that even small losses at recycling facilities, repeated across time, can add to significant pollution.

Mr. Surachai Pienpairoj, Acting Director of Nonthaburi's Environmental and Health Services Division, presented the municipality's current solid waste management scenario, including its Nakornnont Zero Waste programme, waste bank initiative, and efforts to formalize the city's junk shops and informal saleng waste collectors. Technical sessions delivered by AIT RRC.AP and ERIA RKC-MPD covered the scale of regional plastic pollution, the value-chain sources of leakage, best practices and policy measures for recycling facilities, and behavioral change approaches for reducing plastic use.

Participants took part in a solution-mapping exercise, tracing how plastic is lost at each stage of the saleng and junk shop value chain and proposing measures such as fixed waste collection time, source-level segregation, and registration of informal collectors into a formal system. The open discussion that followed ranged widely: participants discussed whether reducing plastic production or strengthening waste management systems should take priority, examined how incentive schemes differ between rural and urban communities, and weighed the practicalities of bringing Nonthaburi's saleng collectors into a regulated framework given limited enforcement capacity. Several participants pointed to enforcement and public segregation habits as areas needing more attention, while others raised wastewater discharge from recycling facilities as an overlooked source of microplastic pollution.

The workshop forms part of CaRMPAC's rollout across 12 cities in five ASEAN Member States, building on Phase 1 guidelines developed in 2022–2023. The programme is recognized by the ASEAN Working Groups on Chemicals and Waste and on Coastal and Marine Environment and continues AIT RRC.AP's work with ERIA RKC-MPD and the ASEAN Secretariat to strengthen the capacity of recyclers and local government officers across the region to prevent plastic leakage into marine environments.

The Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT RRC.AP), together with Asian Institute of Technology Centre in Vietnam (AITCV) and the ERIA Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (ERIA RKC-MPD), convened a two-day Capacity Building Workshop on Preventing Recycling-Related Plastic Leakage from Plastic Recycling in Hanoi on 27 and 28 July 2026. The event was held under the Capacity Building Programme for Reducing Recycling-Related Marine Plastic Pollution in ASEAN Cities (CaRMPAC) and brought together officials from Hanoi's Department of Agriculture and Environment, the municipal waste operator, private manufacturers, academic researchers, civil society groups, environmental practitioners, and the Women's Union to understand and discuss on leakage that occurs within the recycling chain.

The workshop opened with remarks from Dr. Phung Van Dong, Executive Director of AIT Vietnam (online); Dr. Guilberto Borongan, Director of AIT RRC.AP; and Mr. Indradhi Faisal Ibrahim, Programme Manager of Capacity Building at ERIA RKC-MPD (online). Followed by the presentation from Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, Vice Head of Solid Waste Management at Hanoi's Department of Agriculture and Environment who outlined the city's policy trajectory and communicated on Hanoi plan to: advance into AI- and IoT-enabled sorting stations, transfer into closed-loop recycling technology, scale up biodegradable alternatives to single-use plastics, and expand incentives for green manufacturing.

Over the two days, participants examined how plastic leakage may occur across the recycling value chain, from household disposal and informal collection to craft villages, junk shops, transport, storage, and recycling operations. The discussions emphasized that recycling remains an important part of waste reduction and circular economy efforts, but that leakage can occur when source segregation, collection, sorting, and processing are not properly managed.

A key feature of the Hanoi workshop was the depth of stakeholder dialogue it generated. Representatives from government, the municipal waste operator, private manufacturers, academia, and civil society organizations discussed challenges specific to Hanoi's waste system, including limited enforcement of source-segregation regulations, collection fees that remain low relative to operating costs, the growth of unregulated scrap-collection yards, and the difficulty of connecting recyclers to stable markets for low-value plastics. These issues were explored not only as technical problems, but also as questions of governance, financing, and behaviour change requiring coordination among ward authorities, waste collectors, businesses, and residents.

Following sessions on behaviour change and the APPCR approach to identifying and preventing plastic losses in recycling operations, participants discussed practical measures for strengthening source segregation, improving collection systems, and supporting recyclers through clearer Extended Producer Responsibility guidance and incentive-based schemes. Local examples raised included pilot pay-as-you-throw and reward-based collection programmes, reflecting Hanoi's ongoing efforts to test locally adapted solutions.

Through interactive discussions and stakeholder dialogue, the Hanoi workshop created a platform for participants to connect technical knowledge with local realities. The activity reinforced that preventing plastic leakage requires not only improved recycling practices, but also stronger source segregation, financing, enforcement, and coordinated action across government, businesses, and communities.

The Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT RRC.AP), in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Lao PDR, Zero Waste Laos, Urban Management and Services Office (VCOM), Luang Prabang City and with support from the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (ERIA RKC-MPD), conducted the Capacity Building Workshop on Preventing Recycling-Related Plastic Leakage from Plastic Recycling and hosted by VCOM, Luang Prabang City, Lao PDR, 21-22 May 2026 under the CaRMPAC Project.

The workshop brought together participants from government agencies, waste management and recycling-related sectors, local communities, and other relevant stakeholders. The opening session was opened by Mr. Khamphet Thammavong, Deputy Director of VCOM of Luang Prabang, Mr.Khadtiya Vanhnasack, Deputy Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Luang Prabang; Dr.Guilberto Borongan, Director of AIT RRC.AP; and Mr. Reo Kawamura, Director of ERIA RKC-MPD. In their remarks, the speakers highlighted the importance of translating regional knowledge from the CaRMPAC initiative into practical local action, particularly for Luang Prabang as a UNESCO World Heritage City and major tourism destination where environmental quality is closely linked to cultural identity, community well-being, and the local economy.

Over the two days, participants examined how plastic leakage may occur across the recycling value chain, from household handling and informal collection to junk shops, transport, storage, and recycling operations. The discussions emphasized that recycling remains an important part of waste reduction and circular economy efforts, but that leakage can occur when sorting, storage, washing, processing, and residue handling are not properly managed.

A key feature of the Luang Prabang workshop was its strong focus on local problem-solving. Participants discussed challenges specific to local waste systems, including limited market connectivity for recyclable materials, declining participation of middlemen, transportation costs, irregular collection, low-value plastics, and the difficulty of sustaining recycling activities in areas where recyclable volumes are limited. These issues were explored not only as technical problems, but also as ecosystem challenges requiring coordination among local authorities, recycling businesses, waste collectors, communities, schools, temples, markets, and tourism-related actors.

Following the behaviour change session on the second day, participants worked in groups to identify practical solutions for improving waste separation, strengthening awareness, supporting recycling enterprises, and improving cooperation between policy makers, consumers, and small-scale recycling actors. The group presentations reflected local priorities such as public education, clearer responsibilities, improved collection systems, practical infrastructure support, and stronger coordination between communities and local authorities.

The workshop also introduced participants to behaviour change approaches, including the importance of enabling environments, incentives, social norms, and locally appropriate communication. Discussions highlighted that awareness alone may not be sufficient unless people are provided with practical systems, convenient options, and visible examples that make proper waste handling easier to adopt.

Through interactive discussions and group exercises, the Luang Prabang workshop created a platform for participants to connect technical knowledge with local realities. The activity reinforced that preventing plastic leakage requires not only better infrastructure and recycling practices, but also cooperation, behaviour change, market linkages, and locally led solutions.

Through the CaRMPAC initiative, AIT RRC.AP continues to support ASEAN cities in strengthening local capacity, promoting practical actions, and advancing regional collaboration to reduce recycling-related plastic leakage and marine plastic pollution.

The Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT RRC.AP), in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Lao PDR, and with support from the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (ERIA RKC-MPD), conducted the Capacity Building Workshop on Preventing Recycling-Related Plastic Leakage from Plastic Recycling in Vientiane, Lao PDR, on 18-19 May 2026 under the CaRMPAC Project.

The workshop brought together representatives from government agencies, local authorities, recycling-related stakeholders, and environmental practitioners to strengthen understanding of how plastic leakage can occur across recycling activities and how practical measures can help prevent plastic waste from leaking in the environment. The programme forms part of the Capacity Building Programme for Reducing Recycling-Related Marine Plastic Pollution in ASEAN Cities, implemented across 12 cities in seven ASEAN Member States.

The opening session featured remarks from Mr. Aloune Sayavong, Deputy Director General of the Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Lao PDR, followed by remarks from Dr. Guilberto Borongan, Director of AIT RRC.AP, and Mr. Reo Kawamura, Director of ERIA RKC-MPD.

Throughout the two-day workshop, participants discussed plastic leakage pathways across the recycling value chain, including household waste handling, informal collection, junk shops, material recovery facilities, and mechanical recycling operations. The sessions highlighted that while recycling supports waste reduction, resource recovery, livelihoods, and circular economy goals, poorly managed collection, sorting, storage, washing, transport, and processing activities can allow plastic fragments and residues to leak into drainage systems, open land, rivers, and the wider environment.

The workshop also covered practical approaches for preventing leakage from recycling facilities, including improved sorting and storage, better containment systems, regular cleaning, safer workplace practices, and simple operational improvements. Sessions further addressed occupational health and safety, behaviour change, community participation, and the importance of connecting policy, technical knowledge, and local experience.

Through interactive discussions and solution-mapping exercises, participants explored locally appropriate measures to strengthen recycling systems and reduce leakage risks in Vientiane and beyond. Through the CaRMPAC initiative, AIT RRC.AP continues to support ASEAN cities in strengthening capacity, promoting practical solutions, and advancing regional collaboration to reduce marine plastic pollution. 

The Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (AIT RRC.AP), in collaboration with the Environmental Agency of West Java Province (DLH Jawa Barat) and with support from the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia – Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (ERIA RKC-MPD), successfully conducted the Capacity Building Workshop on Preventing Recycling-Related Plastic Leakage from Plastic Recycling in Bandung, Indonesia, on 23-24 April 2026 under the CaRMPAC Project.

 
The workshop brought together representatives from government agencies, academia, waste banks, recycling businesses, NGOs, and environmental practitioners across West Java to strengthen understanding and collaboration on preventing plastic leakage from recycling activities. The programme forms part of the Capacity Building Programme for Reducing Recycling-Related Marine Plastic Pollution in ASEAN Cities (CaRMPAC), which is being implemented across 12 cities in seven ASEAN Member States.

The opening session featured remarks from Helmi Gunawan, Secretary of the West Java Province Environmental Agency (DLH Jawa Barat), followed by remarks from Dr. Guilberto Borongan, Director of AIT RRC.AP, and Mr. Reo? Kawamura, Director of ERIA RKC-MPD.

During the session, Ms. Resmiani, Head of the Environmental Pollution Control Division of DLH West Java also delivered a presentation on the current state of waste management in West Java, highlighting challenges related to plastic waste generation, unmanaged waste, microplastic pollution in rivers and coastal areas, and the need for stronger waste management systems and leakage prevention measures.

  
Interactive sessions explored behavioral change approaches, policy measures, and practical interventions to reduce plastic leakage. Participants also discussed examples of community-based waste management initiatives in Bali, while recognizing the continuing challenge of increasing waste generation despite ongoing improvement efforts.

  
Throughout the workshop, participants discussed how recycling activities themselves can become sources of plastic leakage if facilities lack adequate containment systems, operational standards, and environmental safeguards. Challenges highlighted included outdated recycling equipment, open storage systems, poor waste segregation practices, and insufficient wastewater management in recycling operations. Participants emphasized the importance of strengthening operational standards, occupational health and safety, and infrastructure to reduce leakage risks from both formal and informal recycling systems.

The workshop also explored behavioral change approaches and community-based waste management practices. Discussions highlighted that education alone is often insufficient without an enabling environment, accessible infrastructure, and active public participation. Participants shared local initiatives such as digital waste collection systems, village-level waste bank programmes, reusable tumbler campaigns, and community-based waste segregation efforts that are being implemented across West Java.

Interactive discussions further examined policy measures, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), upstream waste reduction strategies, and the importance of collaboration among government, communities, academia, and the private sector. Participants also stressed the need for stronger enforcement, improved public awareness, and practical solutions tailored to local contexts in Indonesia.

Through the CaRMPAC initiative, AIT RRC.AP continues to support ASEAN cities in strengthening capacities, promoting practical solutions, and advancing regional collaboration to address marine plastic pollution.

The Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT RRC.AP), in collaboration with Udayana University and with support from the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia – Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (ERIA RKC-MPD), successfully conducted the Capacity Building Workshop on Preventing Recycling-Related Plastic Leakage from Plastic Recycling in Bali, Indonesia, on 21–22 April 2026 under the CaRMPAC Project. The workshop was held at the Udayana University Senate Meeting Room in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia.

The workshop brought together representatives from government agencies, academia, recycling businesses, NGOs, and the private sector to strengthen knowledge and regional collaboration on reducing plastic leakage from recycling systems. The workshop is part of the Capacity Building Programme for Reducing Recycling-Related Marine Plastic Pollution in ASEAN Cities (CaRMPAC), which is being implemented across 12 cities in seven ASEAN Member States.

The opening session featured remarks from Dr. Guilberto Borongan, Director of AIT RRC.AP, and Mr. Reo Kawamura, Director of ERIA RKC-MPD and Prof. Agung Suryawan Wiranatha, Director of Centre of Excellence in Tourism - on behalf of the Rector Udayana University.

Discussions during the workshop highlighted the growing challenges of plastic pollution and recycling-related leakage in Bali. Participants emphasized that while recycling plays an important role in reducing waste, leakage can still occur due to inadequate waste segregation, high logistics costs, limited recycling infrastructure, and weak operational systems. Discussions also highlighted the need for stronger coordination, clearer operational procedures, and improved infrastructure to support recycling facilities and waste management systems. 

Interactive sessions explored behavioral change approaches, policy measures, and practical interventions to reduce plastic leakage. Participants also discussed examples of community-based waste management initiatives in Bali, while recognizing the continuing challenge of increasing waste generation despite ongoing improvement efforts.

As part of the workshop, a field visit to “Get Plastic Indonesia” in Bali to observe local recycling operations and discuss practical challenges and opportunities related to plastic leakage prevention.

AIT RRC.AP, through initiatives like CaRMPAC, continues to support ASEAN cities in strengthening capacities, promoting practical solutions, and advancing regional collaboration to address marine plastic pollution.

The Asian Institute of Technology Regional Resource Center for Asia and the Pacific (AIT RRC.AP), in collaboration with the Global Water and Sanitation Center (GWSC), successfully organized a four-day regional workshop on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) under the Southeast Asia Regional Program on Combating Marine Plastics (SEA-MaP). Held from 18–21 November 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the program brought together delegates from ASEAN Member States (AMS) to enhance regional capacity in addressing plastic pollution. 

The workshop forms part of the annual Knowledge Exchange Program (KEP) under SEA-MaP, a World Bank–supported initiative aimed at strengthening the implementation of the ASEAN Regional Action Plan for Combating Marine Debris. This year's focus on EPR reflects growing demand among AMS for practical guidance on designing and operationalizing producer responsibility systems. 

Across two days of intensive training, participants engaged in modules covering the foundations of EPR policy, producer obligations, financial mechanisms, data and monitoring systems, and eco-design. Sessions were delivered by experts from AIT, Chulalongkorn University, Universiti Putra Malaysia, MAREA, and other regional partners. Hands-on activities, including group exercises on developing national EPR action plans, promoted peer learning and cross-country exchange. 

The final two days featured study visits to Ajinomoto Malaysia, the IPC Recycling & Buy-Back Centre, Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill, and KDEB Cyberjaya, where participants observed real-world applications of EPR, waste management innovation, and public-private collaboration.  This joint effort by AIT RRC.AP and GWSC marks an important step toward building a more harmonized and effective EPR landscape in ASEAN—supporting the region's transition toward circular economy models and strengthening collective action to combat marine plastic pollution.

The Asian Institute of Technology Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (AIT RRC.AP), with support from the ERIA Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (RKC-MPD) and in coordination with the ASEAN Secretariat, successfully held the Capacity Building Workshop on Preventing Recycling-Related Plastic Leakage under the CaRMPAC Programme in Khon Kaen, Thailand. The workshop forms part of a broader regional effort to address marine plastic pollution by equipping local governments, recyclers, and industry actors with practical tools to minimise plastic and pellet leakage from both formal and informal recycling systems.

Turning Local Challenges into Practical Solutions

Opening remarks were delivered by Hon. Ms. Nutchareewan Dondeeloet, Vice Mayor of Khon Kaen City Municipality; Dr. Guilberto Borongan, Director of AIT RRC.AP; and Mr. Reo Kawamura, Director of ERIA RKC-MPD. Speakers emphasised that marine plastic pollution has evolved into a systemic environmental, economic, and public health challenge that requires coordinated, facility-level action rather than policy commitments alone. Technical sessions grounded the discussions in Khon Kaen’s waste realities. The city generates roughly 210 tonnes of solid waste daily, with low levels of source segregation and persistent operational constraints. Provincial authorities highlighted Thailand’s transition toward a circular economy, including early development of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), while noting that low-value plastics continue to pose significant leakage risks.

Strengthening Technical Capacity to Reduce Leakage

Participants explored the full recycling value chain to understand how plastics escape the system, from collection and sorting to washing, shredding, and transport. A key distinction was introduced between plastic loss, which is still recoverable within the system, and leakage, which escapes into the environment and becomes irretrievable. This understanding framed leakage as both an environmental burden and an economic loss for recyclers, especially small-scale operators.

A central technical component of the workshop was the APPCR framework (Anticipate–Prevent–Contain–Correct–Recycle), which provided a structured method for diagnosing and managing leakage risks within recycling operations. Through guided exercises, participants identified facility-level leakage points and discussed low-cost operational improvements such as improved storage, covered work areas, drainage maintenance, and simple water recirculation systems, reinforcing that effective leakage prevention does not always require capital-intensive solutions.?

Governance, Behaviour, and System Alignment

Participants also examined the regulatory and behavioural dimensions of leakage prevention. Discussions highlighted the need for realistic minimum standards for housekeeping, containment, and wastewater management, as well as supportive compliance pathways for SMEs and informal recyclers. Behavioural insights underscored that convenience, social norms, and community values often shape waste practices more strongly than information alone. The workshop emphasised that technological measures must be embedded within aligned institutional, economic, and social systems.

The workshop concluded in a series of role-play and solution-mapping exercises that placed participants in the roles of policymakers, industry actors, and consumers. Policymakers and academics emphasised the importance of coherent standards, certification systems, and incentive-based policy instruments. Industry and MSME representatives highlighted constraints related to financing, space, and technical capacity, proposing approaches such as eco-industrial clustering and modular, on-site technical training. Consumer-focused discussions stressed the need for clear eco-labelling, transparent information, and behavioural incentives to influence purchasing and disposal practices. Across all groups, a strong consensus emerged that only coordinated, multi-actor action—combining effective governance, practical industry solutions, and behavioural change—can realistically prevent plastic leakage.

Courtesy reception by the City Vice Mayor, Waste to Energy Facility and Transfer Station, and Plastic Recycling Facility. The Vice Mayor of the City welcomed the RRCAP, ERIA RKC MPD and Khon Kaen University to the City Administration Office and briefed the team on the status of Plastic Waste management of Khon Kaen City, initiatives and challenges. A visit was made to the ACE Waste Energy Facility, Transfer Station, mechanical plastic recovery facility.

Post-training feedback indicated strong participant satisfaction, with many noting the immediate applicability of the tools and approaches introduced during the workshop. Participants recommended further support through practical checklists, case studies, and modular training tailored to small recyclers and informal facilities.

The Khon Kaen workshop marks another significant step in the CaRMPAC Programme’s mission to translate regional commitments on marine debris into actionable, facility-level improvements. By bringing together municipal authorities, recyclers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders, the event strengthened local capacity to reduce plastic leakage and advance the circular economy transition across ASEAN.

The workshop was co-organized by the Ministry of Health of Sri Lanka, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Health Organization (WHO), the Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI), and the Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT RRC.AP). The event aimed to strengthen institutional coordination and national implementation of the Minamata Convention’s provisions related to mercury-added skin-lightening products (SLPs).

Delegates (from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Nepal, and Maldives) discussed key regulatory and enforcement challenges such as fragmented institutional roles, limited coordination between agencies, and inadequate testing capacities at entry points. The need for targeted communications, and stricter controls on informal and online sales channels were also underscored.

Over the two days, participants engaged in technical sessions and group work on national coordination mechanisms, real-time detection tools such as XRF analyzers, case study presentations, and a practical exercise to simulate inter-agency response. Country presentations offered insights into progress made and identified gaps requiring joint solutions.

The workshop stressed the need for formal inter-agency coordination mechanisms, scaling up product testing and post-market surveillance. The event reaffirmed that cross-sector collaboration is essential to eliminate mercury-added SLPs and to protect public health and consumer rights across South Asia.