A spatiotemporal, quasi-experimental causal inference approach to characterize the effects of global plastic waste export and burning on air quality using remotely sensed data

Abstract

Open burning of plastic waste may pose a significant threat to global health by degrading air quality, but quantitative research on this problem—crucial for policy making—has been stunted by lack of data. Many low- and middle-income countries, where open burning is most concerning, have little to no air quality monitoring. Here, we leverage remotely sensed data products combined with spatiotemporal causal analytic techniques to evaluate the impact of large-scale plastic waste policies on air quality. Throughout, we study Indonesia before and after 2018, when China halted its import of plastic waste, resulting in diversion of this massive waste stream to other countries. We tailor cutting-edge statistical methods to this setting, estimating effects of increased plastic waste imports on fine particulate matter (PM2.5) near waste dump sites in Indonesia as a function of proximity to ports, an induced continuous exposure. We observe strong evidence that monthly PM2.5 increased after China’s ban (2018–2019) relative to expected business-as-usual (2012–2017), with increases up to 1.68 μg/m3 (95% CI = [0.72, 2.48]) when exposed to medium-high port proximity. Effects were more modest for very-high port proximity exposure, possibly reflecting smaller increases in dumping/burning where government oversight is greater.