Waste Sovereignty and Plastic Colonialism: Environmental Power and Populism in the Global Political Economy of Waste
Oludele Mayowa Solaja
References
Ali, S. H. & Jenkins, M. (2020). “Governing international waste flows: The Basel Convention and environmental governance.” Global Environmental Politics, 20(3), 15–36.
Brooks, A. L.; Wang, S. & Jambeck, J. R. (2018). “The Chinese import ban and its impact on global plastic waste trade.” Science Advances, 4(6), eaat0131. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aat0131
Bullard, R. D. (2000). Dumping in Dixie: Race, class, and environmental quality (3rd ed.). Westview Press.
Clapp, J. (2021). Toxic exports: The transfer of hazardous wastes from rich to poor countries (2nd ed.). Cornell University Press.
Clapp, J. (2022). “The political economy of plastic waste and recycling.” Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 47, 287–310. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-120920-105059
Fidayanti, A. F. (2025). “Sustainable plastic waste management practices and circular economy strategies.” Waste and Sustainable Society, 6(2), 1–12.
Geyer, R.; Jambeck, J. R. & Law, K. L. (2017). “Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made.” Science Advances, 3(7), e1700782. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1700782
Gündoğdu, S.; Walker, T. R. & Liboiron, M. (2025). “The global plastics treaty must include strict global controls on plastic waste trade.” Cambridge Prisms: Plastics, 3, 1–9.
Jackson, T. & Rix, D. (1998). “Waste management and environmental policy: Economic instruments and policy integration.” Environmental Politics, 7(1), 1–23.
Liboiron, M. (2021). Pollution is colonialism. Duke University Press.
Liboiron, M.; Zahara, A.; Schoot, I.; Kramm, J.; Liboiron, F. & Zöle, E. (2021). “Equity in author order: A feminist laboratory’s approach.” Catalyst: Feminism, Theory, Technoscience, 7(1).
Martinez-Alier, J. (2002). The environmentalism of the poor: A study of ecological conflicts and valuation. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Nixon, R. (2011). Slow violence and the environmentalism of the poor. Harvard University Press.
O’Neill, K. (2022). “Waste as a global environmental governance problem.” Global Environmental Politics, 22(1), 1–12.
Pellow, D. N. (2018). What is critical environmental justice? Polity Press.
Robbins, P. (2012). Political ecology: A critical introduction (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
Smakgahn, K. (2025). “Transboundary trade in plastic waste and environmental governance challenges.” Nature Environment and Pollution Technology, 24(1), 1–12.
Swyngedouw, E. (2004). Social power and the urbanization of water: Flows of power. Oxford University Press.
Tehrani, M. (2025). “Governance and innovation in plastic waste management systems.” Journal of Environmental Policy and Governance, 35(2), 1–14.
Tiamiyu, A. (2026). “Grassroots-led democratized plastic governance for planetary health.” Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 17(1), 1–12.
United Nations Environment Programme. (2018). Single-use plastics: A roadmap for sustainability. UNEP.
Van den Beukel, J.; Ruisch, A.; Oosten, M.; De Heer, M. & Wijnen, M. (2021). “Circular economy transitions and waste governance.” Sustainability, 13(8), 4352. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084352
Waste Sovereignty and Plastic Colonialism: Environmental Power and Populism in the Global Political Economy of Waste
Oludele Mayowa Solaja
References
Ali, S. H. & Jenkins, M. (2020). “Governing international waste flows: The Basel Convention and environmental governance.” Global Environmental Politics, 20(3), 15–36.
Brooks, A. L.; Wang, S. & Jambeck, J. R. (2018). “The Chinese import ban and its impact on global plastic waste trade.” Science Advances, 4(6), eaat0131. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aat0131
Bullard, R. D. (2000). Dumping in Dixie: Race, class, and environmental quality (3rd ed.). Westview Press.
Clapp, J. (2021). Toxic exports: The transfer of hazardous wastes from rich to poor countries (2nd ed.). Cornell University Press.
Clapp, J. (2022). “The political economy of plastic waste and recycling.” Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 47, 287–310. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-120920-105059
Fidayanti, A. F. (2025). “Sustainable plastic waste management practices and circular economy strategies.” Waste and Sustainable Society, 6(2), 1–12.
Geyer, R.; Jambeck, J. R. & Law, K. L. (2017). “Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made.” Science Advances, 3(7), e1700782. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1700782
Gündoğdu, S.; Walker, T. R. & Liboiron, M. (2025). “The global plastics treaty must include strict global controls on plastic waste trade.” Cambridge Prisms: Plastics, 3, 1–9.
Jackson, T. & Rix, D. (1998). “Waste management and environmental policy: Economic instruments and policy integration.” Environmental Politics, 7(1), 1–23.
Liboiron, M. (2021). Pollution is colonialism. Duke University Press.
Liboiron, M.; Zahara, A.; Schoot, I.; Kramm, J.; Liboiron, F. & Zöle, E. (2021). “Equity in author order: A feminist laboratory’s approach.” Catalyst: Feminism, Theory, Technoscience, 7(1).
Martinez-Alier, J. (2002). The environmentalism of the poor: A study of ecological conflicts and valuation. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Nixon, R. (2011). Slow violence and the environmentalism of the poor. Harvard University Press.
O’Neill, K. (2022). “Waste as a global environmental governance problem.” Global Environmental Politics, 22(1), 1–12.
Pellow, D. N. (2018). What is critical environmental justice? Polity Press.
Robbins, P. (2012). Political ecology: A critical introduction (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
Smakgahn, K. (2025). “Transboundary trade in plastic waste and environmental governance challenges.” Nature Environment and Pollution Technology, 24(1), 1–12.
Swyngedouw, E. (2004). Social power and the urbanization of water: Flows of power. Oxford University Press.
Tehrani, M. (2025). “Governance and innovation in plastic waste management systems.” Journal of Environmental Policy and Governance, 35(2), 1–14.
Tiamiyu, A. (2026). “Grassroots-led democratized plastic governance for planetary health.” Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 17(1), 1–12.
United Nations Environment Programme. (2018). Single-use plastics: A roadmap for sustainability. UNEP.
Van den Beukel, J.; Ruisch, A.; Oosten, M.; De Heer, M. & Wijnen, M. (2021). “Circular economy transitions and waste governance.” Sustainability, 13(8), 4352. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084352