This report documents severe POPs contamination in communities near lime kilns in Karawang, Indonesia, where plastic and rubber waste are burned as fuel. Tests of soil, ash, and chicken eggs revealed extremely high levels of dioxins, PCBs and other pollutants, with egg contamination exceeding EU food safety limits by more than seventy times.
The findings show that burning plastic waste generates dangerous toxic emissions, polluting local environments and posing serious health risks. This represents some of the highest POPs contamination recorded in Asia and globally.
The report calls for urgent action under the Stockholm and Basel Conventions to end the use of plastic waste as fuel and to strengthen controls on waste disposal and management. It is intended for Stockholm Convention focal points, national officials, experts, coordinating bodies, regional centres and other stakeholders.
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