The United Nations is taking action in the fight against plastic waste
On the occasion of World Environment Day, a new report from UN about Waste nad Environment was published. This global outlook presents case studies from more than 60 countries. The report analyzes the complex relationships in our plastics economy and offers an approach to rethink how the world produces, uses and manages single-use plastics. Among the recommendations are specific actions policy makers can take to improve waste management, promote eco-friendly alternatives, educate consumers, enable voluntary reduction strategies and successfully implement bans or levies on the use and sale of single-use plastics.
The authors of the report present both the advantages of plastics (hygienic packaging, non-corrosive, lightweight, easy to transport, etc.), as well as the problems associated with the huge production of plastics for various sectors of the economy and lack of recycling (only 9% of plastic production is recycled and nearly 80% are landfilled or dumps or littered in the environment). The largest amount of plastic waste are disposable packaging.
Although most disposable packaging waste is produced in Asia and North America, as is widely known, large quantities of plastic packaging waste are also produced in Europe.
Interestingly, the report emphasizes not only health aspects for animals and people related to the entry of plastics into the environment, but also economic aspects. Asia-Pacific EconomicCooperation (APEC) estimated a $1.3 billion economic impact of marine plastics to the tourism,fishing and shipping industries in that region alone.
The fight against excessive amounts of plastics should consist of proper waste segregation and efficient transport of waste, as well as economically viable recycling and reduction of landfilled waste. All these activities should be undertaken based on the idea of a circular economy, and above all based on appropriate promotional and educational activities that will help increase the awareness of consumers choosing products in plastic packaging.
June 11, 2018
Read more on:
https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/press-release/new-report-offers-global-outlook-efforts-beat-plastic-pollution
