UK urged to change its 'out of sight, out of mind' attitude

Last year, the United Kingdom was the fourth-largest exporter of plastic waste, behind the United States, Japan and Germany, accounting for 10 percent of total exports, according to the environmental organization Greenpeace.

Less than a third of plastic collected in the UK is processed domestically.

The Malaysian Environment Minister, Yeo Bee Yin, said last week, "Developed countries like the UK always prioritize recycling and its people follow suit, but they do not realize this waste is dumped in our country."