Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Springer-Verlag , Basel, 2024
Trade refers to the exchange of goods between states, companies, or individuals. Although the term implies a transaction between two parties, its impact can directly or indirectly affect multiple other parties. One of the “other parties” is the environment. Hence, commercial activities inevitably entail environmental costs. Despite the benefts, the production and transportation of goods derived from the exploitation of nature has also an environmental impact. In other words, the production and transportation of commodities from point A to point B has a signifcant environmental impact due to accidents, losses, and operational issues, leading to greenhouse gas emissions. Hence, it is evident that the trade of essential commodities has negative consequences for the environment, indicating that the nature of trade has the potential to cause environmental harm. So, how do we set the framework in the case where the commodities being traded are in the form of waste? It is important to consider that waste materials, such as packaging for milk, cheese, and fruit and vegetables consumed in your kitchen, can suddenly become “proftable” objects. What perspective should we take when discussing this “dirty trade”, which goes far beyond the traditional understanding of trade? Similarly, how should we approach the commercial aspect of exchanging unwanted waste from nuclear or thermal power plants? To answer these questions, it is imperative to understand the underlying reasons behind waste transfer in pursuit of generating value. Trading of a commodity that poses a threat to both the environment and human health necessitates careful examination in relation to public health concerns. The generation and transportation of waste present signifcant hazards and may be intertwined with other potentially illicit activities. It is clear that waste traffcking is often linked to other types of potentially illicit traffcking. Hence, waste cannot be assessed in the same way as trade in commodities. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the waste trade, specifcally emphasising plastic waste in connection to the aforementioned subject matter. Beginning with a historical viewpoint rooted in the colonialist framework of the plastic waste trade, it also addresses the transboundary movement of waste and its resulting environmental pollution. Consequently, readers of this book will understand how the waste trade has become a colonialist pollution transfer.