Developing innovative tech solutions could be vital for resolving the ever-growing waste issue in Southeast Asia. According to the World Economic Forum (Weforum), out of the ten highest-polluting nations in the world, six come from the region. Population growth and rapid urbanisation also strain trash management systems, leading to diseases, environmental and resource degradation, and soil, water, and air pollution.
Green tech solutions in Southeast Asia can promote sustainability while reducing the negative environmental impacts of human activity that generate industrial, household, and agricultural waste. Of great concern is the damage done by plastics.
We take a deep dive into e-waste management in Southeast Asia
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has a high volume of plastic waste, led by Indonesia with 4.22 million tons. Vietnam is second with 3.799 million tons, Thailand has 3.2 million tons, and the Philippines and Malaysia have 1.51 million and 1.45 million tons, respectively. Singapore has one of the lowest plastic waste volumes in the region, generating 518,000 tons.
Generally, the causes of pollution in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region include:
- Poor waste collection practices.
- Inadequate processing infrastructures.
- Lack of consumer awareness on recycling.
- Environmentally harmful waste disposal methods like incineration.
Moreover, there are insufficient trash-tracking solutions, and garbage ends up in open dumps, landfills, or water bodies. So, how can ASEAN combat its growing waste problem?
Southeast Asia’s adoption of waste management solutions
Technology is transforming waste management in Southeast Asia in the following ways:
Tech innovations
Smart waste management platforms help to protect the environment. For example, the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) partnered with ICT consultant NEC Corporation and has been using real-time waste transportation and monitoring and tracking capabilities to prevent illegal waste dumping.
Waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies convert trash into an energy source like electricity or fuel. Estimations put Southeast Asia’s WTE at USD 3.74 billion in 2024. It is on target to grow by 12.79% to reach USD 6.85 billion by 2029. Netherlands-based Harvest Waste began studies to start a WTE venture in Vietnam. According to the company, WTE not only generates clean and affordable energy but also slows down climate change, eliminates uncontrolled landfills, produces recycled products, and creates jobs.
Another innovative solution comes from material tech startups, which use various techniques and technologies to break down substances and compounds to create new eco-friendly applications—for example, turning organic waste into biogas to fuel people in rural areas.
Using blockchain technology
Blockchain technology has broad applications in waste management. It can provide the structural features for information security, enabling companies to keep accurate and verifiable records on collecting, disposing, and recycling trash. It ensures secure data sharing among authorised stakeholders and fosters consensus through open and transparent smart contracts.
Furthermore, Sandra Ro, CEO of the Global Blockchain Business Council, the world’s leading industry association for blockchain technology and digital asset community, said that a well-designed blockchain system can support better data transparency for risk mitigation.
Automation
Artificial intelligence (AI) can automate recycling in Southeast Asia. AI-powered sorting systems like sensors and robots can quickly differentiate recyclable materials, sort them, and reduce contamination, thereby increasing recycled product quality. Moreover, robots can handle labour-intensive tasks in recycling facilities, offer greater precision, and reduce processing times.
Waste tracking
Various ASEAN companies provide tech solutions and platforms for tracking waste. For example, Singapore-based Lumitics is a smart food waste tracker that enables Food and Beverage (F&B) establishments to optimise food production, know the amount wasted, reduce wastage by 30%, conserve energy and resources, and lower costs.
Secondly, the amount of waste illegally dumped in Southeast Asia by foreign countries is shocking. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), legal and illegal waste arrives from the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), the European Union (EU), Japan, and other countries. About 15-30% of EU waste shipments are illegal, forcing ASEAN to tighten regulations, increase enforcement, identify shipment mislabeling, thwart waste trafficking, spot falsified documents, and impose adequate sanctions.
Addressing the waste crisis in ASEAN
The waste crisis in ASEAN requires regional governments and waste management industry stakeholders to work together to address infrastructure gaps, funding shortages, and regulatory hurdles, especially for startups in the ecosystem to thrive.
Innovative tech solutions must evolve to reduce the levels of waste in Southeast Asia efficiently, sustainably, and responsibly. Citizens can play a significant role by increasing their awareness of the dangers of poor trash management and inadequate recycling. As mentioned, the risk is not only for the environment through pollution but also for humans through diseases and deaths.
Adopting green tech solutions in Southeast Asia will also streamline supply chains and reduce food wastage and the use of non-eco-friendly packages. Ultimately, stakeholders must push for a ban on single-use plastics, combat waste trafficking, and switch to a circular economy that reuses resources multiple times.