Sci-tech

United Nations presents first global outlook against plastic pollution

June 08, 2018 08:38·
Taimur Nagar's residents know little of the hazards of non-biodegradable plastic to the water supply and the animals sat around

Taimur Nagar's residents know little of the hazards of non-biodegradable plastic to the water supply and the animals sat around

"The only way forward is massive enlightenment on the need for a total refusal of the plastic option; let us legislate against it and its use for packaging or storage".

Prof Frimpong-Boateng noted that plastic does not biodegrade, but rather breaks down into smaller pieces forming plastic dusts, and were found in the remotest parts of the world, which floats into the ocean, and enter many marine animals and birds.

It is estimated that we use and discard 500,000,000,000 (half a trillion) plastic bags each year and over a million plastic bottles are sold every minute.

"Some 25,000 tonnes of plastic pollution is generated in the country every year of which only 60 per cent is processed while rest 40 per cent is pure litter..."

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh said that celebration of World Environment Day was an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to the cause of protection of environment.

"To meet the rising tide of plastics, we urgently need strong government leadership and intervention", the report said.

In his latest edition of "Mann Ki Baat' radio programme, PM Modi had urged people to shun the use of plastic and protect the environment".

More than 64,000 tonnes of plastic packaging is disposed of in household general waste bins and sent to landfill in Scotland each year, costing around £11 million.

Disposable plasticDespite the many valuable uses of plastic, people everywhere have become over reliant on single-use or disposable plastic - with severe environmental consequences.

We all are on the cutting edge of a global plastic calamity.

With the United States working on its way to quit the historic Paris Climate Agreement, Solheim says it's just the right time for India and China - among the world's top polluters - to lead the world in the war against climate change and pollution.

In the meantime, apart from the plastic pollution, Sudan is facing other environment issues, top of them desertification or desert encroachment. Plastic in oceans is likely to outweigh fishes by 2050.

Greenpeace is calling on the New Zealand Government to enact a plastic pollution strategy, that starts with a comprehensive ban on plastic bags and moves into eliminating other avoidable single-use plastics, like straws, cutlery and stir sticks, and then set up nationwide container deposit scheme to ensure better collection with drink bottles.

"But we can help", he continued, adding that despite being in a desperate situation to work upon its solid waste management, the world can still learn from India and India can learn from China and vice versa.

Critics charge that Japanese consumers and retailers use too much plastic, as a mania for elaborate packaging results in nearly everything being wrapped - even single pieces of fruit. Beat plastic pollution. World Environment Day.

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