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The world’s plastic pollution crisis, explained.Nat. Geographics Laura Parker May 28, 2025 Much of the planet is swimming in discarded plastic, which is harming animal and possibly human health. Can plastic pollution be cleaned up? Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, thanks to the overwhelming rise in production of disposable plastic products.Plastic pollution is most visible in developing Asian and African nations, where garbage collection systems are often inefficient or nonexistent. But the developed world, especially in countries with low recycling rates, also has trouble properly collecting discarded plastics. Plastic trash has become so ubiquitous it has prompted efforts to
Why was plastic invented?........Plastics made from fossil fuels are just over a century old. Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland created the first fully synthetic plastic in 1907. Production and development of thousands of new plastic products accelerated after World War II, which transformed the modern age so much that life without plastics would be unrecognizable today. In plastic, inventors found a light, durable material that can be used in everything from transportation to medicine. Plastics revolutionized medicine with life-saving devices, made space travel possible, lightened cars and jets—saving fuel and pollution—and saved lives with helmets, incubators, and equipment for clean drinking water. The conveniences plastics offer, however, led to a throw-away culture that reveals the material’s dark side: today, single-use plastics account for 40 percent of the plastic produced every year. Many of these products, such as plastic bags and food wrappers, have a lifespan of mere minutes to hours, yet they may persist in the environment for hundreds of years.That's why some governments have taken steps to limit or ban the use of plastic bags. Most recently, California passed legislation to ban all plastic bags by 2026.Here are a few key facts...... Half of all plastics ever manufactured have been made in the last 20 years. Production increased exponentially, from 2.3 million tons in 1950 to 448 million tons by 2015. Production is expected to double by 2050. Every year, about eight million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans from coastal nations. That’s the equivalent of setting five garbage bags full of trash on every foot of coastline around the world. Plastics often contain additives making them stronger, more flexible, and durable. But many of these additives can extend the life of plastic products if they become litter, with some estimates ranging to at least 400 years to break down.
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- Written by: Glenn and Rick
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The world’s plastic pollution crisis, explained.Nat. Geographics Laura Parker May 28, 2025 Much of the planet is swimming in discarded plastic, which is harming animal and possibly human health. Can plastic pollution be cleaned up? Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, thanks to the overwhelming rise in production of disposable plastic products.Plastic pollution is most visible in developing Asian and African nations, where garbage collection systems are often inefficient or nonexistent. But the developed world, especially in countries with low recycling rates, also has trouble properly collecting discarded plastics. Plastic trash has become so ubiquitous it has prompted efforts to
Why was plastic invented?........Plastics made from fossil fuels are just over a century old. Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland created the first fully synthetic plastic in 1907. Production and development of thousands of new plastic products accelerated after World War II, which transformed the modern age so much that life without plastics would be unrecognizable today. In plastic, inventors found a light, durable material that can be used in everything from transportation to medicine. Plastics revolutionized medicine with life-saving devices, made space travel possible, lightened cars and jets—saving fuel and pollution—and saved lives with helmets, incubators, and equipment for clean drinking water. The conveniences plastics offer, however, led to a throw-away culture that reveals the material’s dark side: today, single-use plastics account for 40 percent of the plastic produced every year. Many of these products, such as plastic bags and food wrappers, have a lifespan of mere minutes to hours, yet they may persist in the environment for hundreds of years.That's why some governments have taken steps to limit or ban the use of plastic bags. Most recently, California passed legislation to ban all plastic bags by 2026.Here are a few key facts...... Half of all plastics ever manufactured have been made in the last 20 years. Production increased exponentially, from 2.3 million tons in 1950 to 448 million tons by 2015. Production is expected to double by 2050. Every year, about eight million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans from coastal nations. That’s the equivalent of setting five garbage bags full of trash on every foot of coastline around the world. Plastics often contain additives making them stronger, more flexible, and durable. But many of these additives can extend the life of plastic products if they become litter, with some estimates ranging to at least 400 years to break down.How plastic pollution spreads around the world......read on https:www.
Large amounts of plastic waste are shipped around the world – some to be recycled and much to simply be disposed of in landfills or incinerated. In 2024, 9.34 million metric tons of plastic waste imports were reported, according to the United Nations.Where this exported plastic waste ends up has been shifting. In 2018, China stopped importing plastic waste, causing the total amount of plastic waste moving among countries – at least through official channels – to drop dramatically. Between 1992 and 2016, China’s plastic waste imports made up 45% of global imports.......read on https://theconversation.com/
The ash from open burning can also contaminate soil and groundwater with persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals and other toxicants, creating more chances for people to be exposed to them through food and water.
The UK, for example, has committed to investing as much as £21.7bn over the coming decades in its nascent CCS industry, as part of the nation’s net-zero strategy. Yet, in the UK and elsewhere, there has been a https://www.campaigncc.org/sites/data/files/sites/data/files/Docs/letter_to_sos_-_blue_hydrogen_and_ccus.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1788206385154000&usg=AOvVaw0AU1Ub__uGME5kk6e6auSO" rel="noopener">backlash against plans for CCS. Citing high costs, ties to the fossil-fuel industry and a “history of poor performance”, critics describe CCS as a “dangerous distraction” or a “false climate solution”. Time and again, the outlook for the roll-out of CCS has been scaled back, as the technology has failed to deliver as quickly as expected – and as policy support has wavered.Furthermore, critics state that the technology remains “unproven” on the scale required to make a meaningful impact on global emissions. In this Q&A, Carbon Brief explores the role CCS is expected to play in achieving net-zero, its record to date and the reasons it has been criticised, using the UK as an example.......read on, there's much much more https://www.carbonbrief.org/
The world’s plastic
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Plastic waste burning and health impacts........Between 40% and 65% of total municipal solid waste is openly burned in low- and middle-income countries, largely as a result of 2 billion people around the world having no municipal solid waste collection. Open burning occurs both intentionally and unintentionally, the latter when open dump sites containing organic waste spontaneously combust due to heat generated as the waste degrades. When plastic burns, it releases particularly toxic air pollutants. Fine particles can penetrate deep into people’s bodies, along with gases that include carbon monoxide, styrene gas and hydrogen cyanide. It also releases persistent organic pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dioxins. These particles and gases have been linked to health risks ranging from respiratory and cardiovascular disease to cancer and reproductive and neurological disorders.The ash from open burning can also contaminate soil and groundwater with persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals and other toxicants, creating more chances for people to be exposed to them through food and water.
Large amounts of plastic waste are shipped around the world – some to be recycled and much to simply be disposed of in landfills or incinerated. In 2024, 9.34 million metric tons of plastic waste imports were reported, according to the United Nations.Where this exported plastic waste ends up has been shifting. In 2018, China stopped importing plastic waste, causing the total amount of plastic waste moving among countries – at least through official channels – to drop dramatically. Between 1992 and 2016, China’s plastic waste imports made up 45% of global imports.......read on https://theconversation.com/a-lot-of-recycled-plastic-is-being-burned-overseas-and-causing-widespread-pollution-linked-to-health-problems-275800
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- Written by: Glenn and Rick
- Category: Plastic !!
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The world’s plastic pollution crisis, explained.Nat. Geographics Laura Parker May 28, 2025 Much of the planet is swimming in discarded plastic, which is harming animal and possibly human health. Can plastic pollution be cleaned up? Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, thanks to the overwhelming rise in production of disposable plastic products.Plastic pollution is most visible in developing Asian and African nations, where garbage collection systems are often inefficient or nonexistent. But the developed world, especially in countries with low recycling rates, also has trouble properly collecting discarded plastics. Plastic trash has become so ubiquitous it has prompted efforts to
Why was plastic invented?........Plastics made from fossil fuels are just over a century old. Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland created the first fully synthetic plastic in 1907. Production and development of thousands of new plastic products accelerated after World War II, which transformed the modern age so much that life without plastics would be unrecognizable today. In plastic, inventors found a light, durable material that can be used in everything from transportation to medicine. Plastics revolutionized medicine with life-saving devices, made space travel possible, lightened cars and jets—saving fuel and pollution—and saved lives with helmets, incubators, and equipment for clean drinking water. The conveniences plastics offer, however, led to a throw-away culture that reveals the material’s dark side: today, single-use plastics account for 40 percent of the plastic produced every year. Many of these products, such as plastic bags and food wrappers, have a lifespan of mere minutes to hours, yet they may persist in the environment for hundreds of years.That's why some governments have taken steps to limit or ban the use of plastic bags. Most recently, California passed legislation to ban all plastic bags by 2026.Here are a few key facts...... Half of all plastics ever manufactured have been made in the last 20 years. Production increased exponentially, from 2.3 million tons in 1950 to 448 million tons by 2015. Production is expected to double by 2050. Every year, about eight million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans from coastal nations. That’s the equivalent of setting five garbage bags full of trash on every foot of coastline around the world. Plastics often contain additives making them stronger, more flexible, and durable. But many of these additives can extend the life of plastic products if they become litter, with some estimates ranging to at least 400 years to break down.How plastic pollution spreads around the world......read on https:www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/plastic-pollution
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Karen Landmark, managing director at GRID-Arendal, a Norwegian environmental foundation that works closely with Unep, said her organisation was concerned the funding reappraisal could “give other countries an excuse to lower their level of ambition”. “For years, Norway has played a clear and constructive leadership role in pushing for a strong global plastics treaty. When a country in that position signals hesitation or withdraws support, the consequences can extend far beyond its own borders,” she said.
Last year, the chair of the process resigned suddenly, with the talks in disarray. This came just months after the previous round of talks collapsed with little progress and three years of negotiations. A new chair was elected this year, with negotiations expected to resume in early 2027. Karen Landmark, managing director at GRID-Arendal, a Norwegian environmental foundation that works closely with Unep, said her organisation was concerned the funding reappraisal could “give other countries an excuse to lower their level of ambition”. “For years, Norway has played a clear and constructive leadership role in pushing for a strong global plastics treaty. When a country in that position signals hesitation or withdraws support, the consequences can extend far beyond its own borders,” she said.......read on https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/11/norway-un-environment-programme-funding-plastics-treaty-talks
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