This paper is the second of the three interrelated studies focusing on environment, human health, and economics. More specifically, it aims to review and evaluate:
(i) The economic consequences of unmanaged plastics;
(ii) The economic incentives for each country to reduce the leakage of plastics into the environment through increased reuse and recycling (to establish a local recycling economy);
(iii) The cost of plastic pollution;
(iv) The cost of inaction; and
(v) The economic opportunities that can benefit communities as well as to identify economic incentives that will not only address poverty but will encourage a local secondary resources economy.
This study is undertaken in order to:
(i) Make recommendations on actions to be taken at national and regional levels to reduce the consumption of single-use plastics, to improve product design for recycling, to grow local recycling economies and to identify evidence gaps;
(ii) Make recommendations to promote collaboration and networking; and
(iii) Make recommendations to build capacity and promote understanding within the region.