[By Anton L. Delgado]

On Son Island in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, Le Trung Tin scatters fish feed into his ponds, where dozens of snakehead fish leap through the surface in synchronised bursts. “I taught them how to do that,” he says proudly, tossing another handful of feed at his fish.

The scene looks idyllic, but Le’s fish farm is a reluctant response to an escalating crisis. For decades, he made his living fishing the Hau River, a distributary of the Mekong. But in recent years, plastic waste clogged his nets and strangled the fish. “I had no choice but to stop,” he says. “Everything was tangled – trash, nets, even the fish themselves. It was hopeless.”

Now, Le relies on enclosed ponds using filtered water to keep his fish alive. “I built this ecological environment free of plastic waste, chemical spills and [protected it from] extreme weather,” he says.

(Video: Anton L. Delgado / Dialogue Earth)

Le’s experience reflects the wider challenges facing the Mekong. Stretching over 4,300 kilometres from the Tibetan Plateau to the South China Sea, the river supports nearly 70 million people and some of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems. Yet, it is one of the most plastic-polluted rivers in the world and among the 10 rivers in Asia that carry the vast majority of plastic to the sea. The Mekong dumps – by some estimates – tens of thousands of tonnes each year into the ocean, with plastic waste accumulating along its banks, tributaries and lakes.

Plastic enters the Mekong in myriad ways – agricultural runoff, unregulated dumping and a flood of single-use packaging from upstream countries like China and Myanmar. It accumulates in hotspots like Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia and the wetlands of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, where this plastic waste threatens biodiversity, food security and human health.

The unchecked proliferation of single-use plastics, combined with a lack of waste management infrastructure across the region, has resulted in widespread mismanagement of plastic waste – much of which is neither recycled, incinerated nor properly disposed in landfills. Vietnam, often ranked as the world’s fourth-largest contributor of mismanaged plastic waste, also accounts for a significant share of marine plastic debris, highlighting the country’s struggle to address the crisis effectively.

Addressing the Mekong’s plastic pollution crisis will require coordinated efforts from regional governments and transboundary organisations, however experts say a lasting solution requires a bold global agreement limiting plastic use and production, combined with enforceable regional policies.

A global crisis: Will the plastics treaty deliver?

Hopes were high as national negotiators gathered in Busan, South Korea, to finalise the Global Plastics Treaty – an ambitious UN effort aimed at tackling the global plastic pollution crisis. However, the talks were adjourned earlier this month without agreement, leaving campaigners frustrated in their push for the treaty to address both ends of the crisis: limiting plastic production and improving global waste-management systems.

On Sunday 1 December, the final day of the summit, Eirik Lindebjerg, global plastics policy lead for WWF, said governments were “no closer to agreeing on a solution to the worsening plastic crisis.”

“For too long, a small minority of states have held the negotiation process hostage. It is abundantly clear that these countries have no intention of finding a meaningful solution to this crisis,” he continued in a press release. “It is unjust that those who bear the greatest burden of plastic pollution are being denied the opportunity to forge a solution among themselves by those profiteering off the unregulated production and consumption of plastic.”

Critics also point out that previous global agreements to resolve environmental crises, such as climate change and biodiversity loss, have fallen short of their goals due to weak enforcement mechanisms and the influence of powerful industry lobbying groups.

A plastic bag full of waste floats down the Ruak River, a tributary of the Mekong on the border of Myanmar and Thailand. Nearby, a rescued elephant plays in the water. The United Nations Environment Programme warns plastic pollution could triple by 2040, threatening the biodiversity of this rich ecosystem (Image: Anton L. Delgado / Dialogue Earth)

Plastic production has doubled over the past 20 years, with over 400 million tonnes produced annually. Single-use plastics, which make up half of this total, are particularly problematic, accounting for a significant portion of the waste clogging rivers like the Mekong. While technological solutions like recycling and waste-to-energy plants are often advocated by industry, their impact pales in comparison to the scale of production.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has warned that plastic pollution could triple by 2040 without drastic action.

“The price for inaction is far greater than wasted time, it puts both planetary and human health on the line and sets us up for a scenario where ambition could diminish over time,” says Erin Simon, vice president and head of plastic waste and business with WWF. “We can’t back down on delivering a legally binding text that finally puts us on a course to eliminate plastic pollution,” he added.

Local fisher Boonrat Chaikeaw catches a net full of trash as he plies the Mekong’s waters by Chiang Khong on the border of Thailand and Laos (Image: Anton L. Delgado / Dialogue Earth)

Dialogue Earth visited four plastic-waste hotspots along the lower reaches of the Mekong – Chiang Saen in Thailand, Phnom Penh and Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia and Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. These sites showcase the problems the plastics treaty needs to address: waste from newly produced plastic, the damaging impact of plastic waste on local people and the transnational nature of the problem.

Chiang Saen, Thailand: Where the Mekong’s plastic problem peaks

In northern Thailand, the Mekong flows past Chiang Saen near the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos converge. Here, plastic waste collects in growing heaps along the riverbanks. The debris – food wrappers, plastic bottles and fishing nets – has floated downstream from upstream countries like China and Myanmar, clogging tributaries like the Ruak River.

“Sometimes it feels like the waste never ends,” says Poonyawee Srisantear, who manages a local elephant camp. Mahouts (elephant keepers) at the camp regularly collect rubbish from the riverbanks to protect their elephants. “The smell of food clings to the plastic and elephants often mistake it for something to eat,” she explains. Delgado / Dialogue Earth)

Plastic waste in the Mekong River basin poses a significant threat to the environment and human health. The proliferation of plastic waste in the region has reached alarming levels, with devastating consequences for wildlife and the communities that depend on the river for their livelihoods.

One of the most immediate dangers posed by plastic waste in the Mekong is the risk of ingestion by aquatic animals. Fish, birds, and other wildlife mistake plastic debris for food, leading to internal injuries, blockages, and starvation. When they swallow it, it can be life-threatening to them.

Furthermore, plastic waste leaches harmful chemicals into the water, contaminating the environment and posing risks to human health. Microplastics, tiny particles of plastic that are nearly invisible to the naked eye, have been found in the Mekong River and its tributaries. These microplastics can accumulate in the tissues of fish and other aquatic animals, potentially entering the food chain and posing risks to human consumers.

Efforts to address the plastic pollution crisis in the Mekong must focus on prevention, clean-up, and waste management. Governments in the region need to implement policies to reduce plastic consumption, improve waste collection and recycling infrastructure, and hold polluters accountable for their actions.

Individuals can also play a role in combating plastic pollution by reducing their use of single-use plastics, recycling and disposing of waste responsibly, and supporting initiatives that aim to clean up the Mekong River and protect its ecosystems.

The Mekong River is a vital lifeline for the people and wildlife of Southeast Asia. It is essential that we take action now to protect this precious natural resource for future generations. Otherwise, the consequences of our plastic addiction will continue to reverberate throughout the region, with devastating effects on the environment and the communities that rely on the river for their survival.

River Ocean Cleanup, the NGO founded by Sovann Nou, has mobilised local volunteers to remove plastic waste from waterways in the Mekong Delta. Their efforts have not only helped to clean up the environment but have also raised awareness about the impact of plastic pollution on local communities.

In Kampong Phluk, Sophal Sea and his team at Bambooshoot are working to educate villagers about proper waste disposal and the importance of reducing plastic usage. By empowering local communities to take action, they hope to create a sustainable solution to the plastic crisis in the region.

In Vietnam, researchers like Nguyen Xuan Hoang and Cong Thuan Nguyen are studying the sources of plastic pollution in the Mekong Delta and advocating for policies to address the problem. The government’s ban on plastic waste imports and the Extended Producer Responsibility policy are steps in the right direction, but more needs to be done to effectively manage plastic waste in the region.

As countries in the Mekong Basin work towards reducing plastic pollution, collaboration and support from the international community will be crucial. By sharing knowledge and resources, countries can work together to protect the Mekong Delta and the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on its resources.

The Mekong River is a lifeline for Southeast Asia, providing food, water, and transportation for millions of people. It is essential that we take action now to protect this vital ecosystem and ensure a sustainable future for the region. Through dialogue, collaboration, and grassroots efforts, we can make a difference in the fight against plastic pollution in the Mekong Delta.

The Mekong River’s Plastic Crisis: A Call to Action

In the heart of Southeast Asia, the Mekong River faces a monumental challenge – plastic pollution. Waste-collecting boats regularly navigate its canals, diligently removing debris to prevent further contamination. In addition, NGOs are conducting educational campaigns to reduce dependency on single-use plastic, aiming to tackle the root cause of the crisis.

This environmental issue transcends regional boundaries, serving as a stark reminder of the global failure to manage waste sustainably. Annually, tens of thousands of tonnes of plastic waste are carried by the Mekong into the South China Sea, exacerbating the urgency for comprehensive solutions at all levels – local, regional, and global.

Despite recent efforts, including a seven-day negotiation led by INC chair Luis Vayas, concrete actions are yet to materialize. The lack of consensus during the meeting underscores the challenges ahead, leaving the timeline for addressing critical issues like plastic pollution in the Mekong Delta uncertain.

If left unchecked, the Mekong River will continue to discharge plastic waste into the South China Sea unabated. From the initial signs of pollution in the Golden Triangle to the choked canals of the delta, the river’s plight emphasizes the pressing need for coordinated, cross-border initiatives to safeguard both the waterway and the livelihoods of millions reliant on it.

Anton L. Delgado, a seasoned multimedia journalist based in Cambodia, dedicates his work to reporting on news and environmental issues throughout the region. As a former Pulitzer fellow, he brings a wealth of experience and insight to his storytelling.

This article is shared with permission from Dialogue Earth. The original piece can be accessed here.