The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in partnership with the Government of Japan, on May 5, 2020, launched https://www.unescap.org/news/new-un-initiative-reduce-plastic-pollution-asean-cities a “Closing the Loop” project in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Surabaya, Indonesia; Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand and Da Nang, Viet Nam – “… The project will … leverage innovative technologies such as remote sensing, satellite and crowdsourced data applications to detect and monitor the sources and pathways of plastic waste entering rivers … The project will produce plastic waste maps and simulations … and will train officials and stakeholders … to use smart technologies to monitor, assess, report on and sustainably manage plastic waste as well as further strengthen municipal solid waste management systems. Urban policy makers will also be provided the tools and knowhow to develop policy and investment strategies which apply a circular economy approach in managing their plastic waste streams …” #ESCAP #PlasticWaste #SingleUsePlastic