In the ASEAN region, approximately 202,000 metric tons of waste (2012) are produced per day, and forecasts expect this figure to double by 2025. Population growth, rising prosperity and changing consumer habits are leading to significantly increasing quantities of waste in all countries of the ASEAN region, only a portion of which is collected and disposed of properly. Of particular importance are plastic materials, which are being used in rapidly increasing quantities due to their durability and multiple uses. It is estimated that the ASEAN countries of Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Myanmar alone are responsible for about a quarter of the approximately 31.9 million tons of plastic waste that enters the environment each year worldwide. Of this, an estimated 4 to 12 million tons reach the oceans. The main source of this waste is inadequate waste management in the countries. Only a small proportion of the population is connected to a regular waste collection system and recycling and landfilling of waste is inadequate. Recycling takes place only to a limited extent, but provides a livelihood for many people in the informal sector. However, occupational safety and environmental protection are not sufficiently taken into account. Women are particularly affected, as they often have access only to lower-quality recyclables and play only a marginal role in their marketing.