Sign this petition to tell Amazon to stop polluting our planet with single-use plastic packaging. And every single one must be part of the solution: we need a united global response, with the world's governments made accountable for ending marine plastics pollution. By Truc Vu Uniform Size Classification and Concentration Unit Terminology for Broad Application in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. By coming together to tackle plastic pollution, we can show that powerful, collective action to restore nature is possible. These trips help you embrace itor escape it. The United States is already acting both domestically and internationally to address this global challenge. It doesnt just cause pollution, but poses a major threat to the climate. Trudeau said he also supports efforts by Canadas minister of environment to create a nationwide strategy for zero plastic waste. ), Dont ask for plastic straws when going out to eat, Buy second hand clothing and/or clothing that use recycled cotton and natural fibers (like Patagonia), http://www.topnews.in/usa/scientists-baffled-mystery-missing-ocean-plastic-25250. Large corporations like United Airlines and Disney have also announced this year that they intend to phase plastic straws out of their offerings to customers. Straws will be available for those who request one, and drink stirrers will be replaced by bamboo sticks.Cumulatively, the company says their changes will eliminate 71,000 pounds of plastic waste annually. The accelerating demand for single-use plastic has overwhelmed our ability to deal with it. The list of plastic items targeted was carefully selected to include items that already have ready alternatives, supporters say. Plastics thrown out by households alone made up 1.5 million metric tonnes of that in 2018, or 250,000 elephants. A representative from the company says the lounges won't serve drinks with straws, and plastic won't be used for flatware. Shop Plastic-Free with Exclusive Discounts, How to Protect Your Community from Toxic Plastics During U.S. Lead Pipe Replacements, Changing Culture Around Single-Use Plastics, Lets Create a Just, Equitable World Free of. The above article by Hannah Westwater first published on bigissue.com in Mar, 2021. They drive much of the demand for straws from plastic manufacturers.But these businesses are increasingly responding to consumer pressure.Starbucks is among the most recent companies to announce they'll ditch plastic strawsin this case by the end of 2020. Without urgent actionby governments, businesses and citizensthe amount of plastic entering the environment annually in 2040 will be nearly double that in 2022, despite existing commitments to tackle the problem. Urge Maersk to Stop Shipping Plastic Waste Overseas. An extra 66,000 tonnes of plastic waste would be created, if everyone in the UK used a single-use mask each day for a year. pic.twitter.com/h2zYNeq9jF, Ocean Generation (@oceangen_) March 4, 2021. 80% of the environmental impacts of bottle manufacturing still occur with recycled plastic. This reclaimed plastic is then shipped to manufacturers who reuse it in lieu of producing new plastic. Around 32 per cent of all plastic is recycled in the UK, the researchers said. But most of the worlds plastic trash collects in coastal regions and on beaches in developing nations that lack adequate municipal waste collection systems. However Tesco recently announced a new scheme for recycling harder to process plastics like bread packaging, crisp packets and pet food pouches, starting with collection points at 171 stores across the south west of England and in Wales. It was a candy bar wrapper. Over 2,500 in-person and virtual delegates from 147 countries, engaged in the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-1) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. It is hoped a new plastics treaty will help tackle marine plastic pollution. In addition, the furniture company has committed to phasing out single-use plastics from its stores by 2020, and to designing more sustainably sourced products, including more items made with recycled plastics, by 2030. Californias New Policies on Plastics and Fossil Fuels, Plastic Tox Episode 7: A Poison Like No Other: Microplastics Q&A with Matt Simon, UN Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations (INC-1) Begin in Uruguay, Keep Our National Parks Single-Use Plastic Free, Tell World Leaders We Need a Global Plastics Treaty, Tell Amazon to Stop Polluting With Plastic Packaging. Join activists to collect data on plastic pollution in U.S. National Parks! The strategy document, "Radically Reducing Plastic Pollution in Indonesia: A Multistakeholder Action Plan," lays out an evidence-based roadmap towards reducing . Tell EPA: Plastic PVA Laundry Pods and Sheets Must Be Regulated. Learn more about this piece of news below. From Starbucks to McDonald's, these huge businesses are taking action on plastic pollution. It's 90.5%, the estimated amount of plastic waste ever made that has never been recycled. Microplastics pose a risk to health around the world. People who live in coastal areas should not shoulder the burden of the world's pollution. Tell your representatives its time to support the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2021 for the health and future of humans, animals, waterways, oceans, and the environment. Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, as rapidly increasing production of disposable plastic products overwhelms the world's ability to deal with them.. Below is a list of common Industries that contribute to our plastic problem: In good news, cities, countries, and companies are taking initiative. The company says the shift should eliminate more than 150 million plastic straws per year, with the goal of reducing the marine plastic pollution problem. Straws are known to hurt wildlife and are difficult to recycle, often ending up as litter. Youve all heard the stories and seen the photos, he said. Plastic pollution does contribute a bit to climate changeand slowing the production of non-degradable plastics has other large benefits for natural ecosystems. Around eight million pieces of plastic enter the worlds oceans each day, Surfers Against Sewage said. Every type of plastic can technically be recycled, but a mix of logistical and economic factors mean some effectively cannot be. Plastics affect over 600 species of marine wildlife, including species that humans eat. Canada, which has 151,019 miles of coastlinethe worlds longestand a quarter of the worlds fresh water, joins a growing list of nations taking steps to reduce the use of disposable plastics. In announcing the new ban, Marcela Cubillos, Chiles environment minister, told the New York Times, We are convinced that our coast imposes an obligation to be leaders in cleaning up our oceans.. NextWave does not yet have numbers for how much plastic they could potentially keep out of the oceans in total, but their website highlights that their partnership with Dell alone kept a total of 3 million pounds of plastic from entering the ocean over the past five years. Senator Jeff Merkley teamed up with U.S. Key Largo is the pristine paradise where you wanna go, How Nessie and the Yeti birthed a global cryptid-chasing industry, Photograph by Randy Olson, National Geographic, Photograph by Thomas P. Peschak, Nat Geo Image Collection. A surge of legislation shows that a growing amount of attention is being paid to the serious consequences of plastic pollution, yet challenges remain. 2022 SIG. There are many small ways you can have a big impact. Disney will also eliminate polystyrene cups at its parks and cut down its reliance on single-use plastic bags. Researchers have finally figured out what triggers thempaving the way for the first new class of treatments since 1941. What happens if the flu and RSV fuse into a single virus? We invite you to apply to join the Coalition as an individual, organization or business. According to a press release, HP partnered with a non-profit called the First Mile Coalition, aimed at improving Haitian labor conditions, to create up to 600 jobs collecting plastic bottles. The policy, which is set to be in place by mid-2019, will cut down on the upwards of 175 million straws and 13 million stirrers that are used at these locations each year. In Europe plastic bag taxes have been implemented in Ireland, Denmark, Germany, Austria, The UK, and the Netherlands. This week, Great Britain's Royal Statistical Society announced its statistic of the year. Decades ago, extinction loomed for these gentle marine mammals in Florida. 2 March 2022. Chiles ban is the first country-wide one in the Americas. It's a small, but meaningful step to help minimize the impact plastic products have on our environment, the company said in a press release. All rights reserved, special cover package to plastic in June 2018, Peru's 76 natural and cultural protected area, where plastic straws came from in the first place, Production, Use, and Fate of all plastics ever made, Read about an effort to recycle stranded fishing nets into carpet, how the travel industry is cutting back on plastic straws, 175 million straws and 13 million stirrers, 80 percent of tourism takes place near coastal areas, read how one of our writers attempted to explore Belize plastic-free, banned the use of plastic straws and utensils, Learn more about the history of plastic straws, establish a ban in her country on sales of single-use plastics, eliminate all single-use plastic in the country by 2022. If our bodies dont get rid of these tiny plastic fragments, they could become lodged in our bodies or enter our bloodstreams and release chemicals which can cause inflammation. It doesnt end there; of the 4 trillion plastic bags annually consumed, 1% will be recycled while the rest flood our landfills and oceans (2). A habit takes 21 days to form; lets turn sustainable habits into a lifestyle! (Read about an effort to recycle stranded fishing nets into carpet. Rethinking plastics Urgent call to action on plastics pollution Date: July 1, 2021 Source: University of Delaware Summary: In a new issue of Science, devoted to the plastics problem, call for new . In July 2018, Disney was approved to purchase 21st Century Fox, the parent company of National Geographic. The worlds oldest map of the night sky was amazingly accurate. Fortunately, people around the world have taken the initiative to help with solutions to this problem and so can you! Can we do it again? The meeting set the foundation to shape the global instrument to end plastic pollution, with many governments confirming their desire . Certain industries largely contribute to the worlds plastic problem, some more obvious than others. The Chesapeake Bay Program is a unique regional partnership that has led and directed the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay since 1983. He estimates more than a billion dollars would be needed to really build out more efficient waste infrastructure in Southeast Asia. Engineering Analyst Intern The United States was one of the top sellers of recycled plastic to China. Sign Up for Plastic-Free Trash Blitz in U.S. National Parks. Learn more about our non-profit activities at, The industry made famous in 'Tiger King' to be banned, A rare look at the worlds most expensive sheep. Reducing plastic pollution is an issue of economics, health, and equity. Clothing that contains pl, Shop your local bulk store/section or add your own, Historic policies have been passed to stop plastic. Thats why Im pleasevery pleased, I must sayto put my signature on this important legislation.. The Plastic Bank. They have established seven deliverables for achieving the goals: Eliminate problematic plastics, including by bans and restrictions. Not only does plastic pollution harm marine life and humans, it also harms the fishing industry, aquaculture industry, tourism, recreation, shipping, and other economic sectors. Were okay with that, he said. Its incredible when you look at it, Trump said. To keep plastic pollution from entering waterways, manufacturers either have to stop making it or make sure it's collected at the end of its life. It's a collaboration with the United Nations and is being led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The problem is that most of us use more plastic than we need to, and half of the plastic we produce is designed to be used just once and . Centre for International Environmental Law, International Union for Conservation of Nature. Right now what we need is consumer demand for better plastic choices. Myanmar. "How do I tell them that against all odds, you will find plastic at the very deepest point in the Pacific Ocean?. The ruling takes immediate action on the produce, import, selling and use of these plastic items. Plastic pollution, alongside climate change and biodiversity loss, is a key environmental challenge today. The airline will instead use a biodegradable bamboo alternative, starting in November. As countries enter the negotiation phase, keep up the pressure to ensure the resulting treaty creates more equitable systems to prevent and stop plastic pollution. Experts caution that Modis goal is far from being realized, and would likely take significant changes and investment from industry and the public. The San Diego City Council voted 6-to-3 on January 8 to approve the ban, despite objections from owners of small restaurants who complained that the costs of using environmentally degradable containers, such as cardboard or compostable paper, could be double. Many regional and local areas have bans or other restrictions, including taxes or fees aimed at discouraging the use of single-use plastic bags. FIND OUT MORE LEARN THE FACTS The law fosters efforts to clean up plastic trash from the worlds oceans and encourages federal trade negotiators to prod leaders of nations responsible for the majority of marine debris to improve management of waste that ends up in the oceans. Every single country is part of this plastics crisis. Why DACAand Dreamersare forever in a state of limbo. Microplastics, whose origins are lesser known, form as a result of the breakdown of larger plastics by UV radiation. The U.S. federal government approved $15 billion to replace toxic lead services lines. Learn about what happened at the first round of talks to develop a legally binding global agreement to end plastic pollution. The new ban comes on the heels of previous plastic straw bans from companies and cities. It is also ubiquitous in our pollution. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday that in addition to banning single-use plastics, his government would take other, unspecified steps to reduce plastic pollution. Trudeau made his announcement at the Gault Nature Reserve outside Montreal. Privacy Policy. A lot comes from there., Trump also blamed other unnamed countries that abuse the oceans and whose trash floats to the West Coast of the United States, creating, he said, a very unfair situation., Its incredible. Single-use Plastic Bans. Plastic pollution is a huge problem for our planet. The Plastic Pollution Action Team (PPAT) seeks to reduce the presence and impacts of plastic pollution on the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. British Plastics Foundation research showed around 13,000 tonnes of plastic bottles were recycled in the UK in 2000, compared to 380,000 tonnes in 2020. Tell EPA: Dont Replace Lead Pipes with Plastic Pollution. But the court rejected their arguments. The Plastic Pollution Action Team (PPAT) was formed at the directive of the CBP Management Board and was charged to develop a preliminary ecological risk assessment model (Appendix C), in addition to a size classification document (Appendix B), and this science strategy. We all knew there was a rapid and extreme increase in plastic production from 1950 until now, but actually quantifying the cumulative number for all plastic ever made was quite shocking, Jambeck, a University of Georgia environmental engineer who specializes in studying plastic waste in the oceans, previously told National Geographic. More than two-thirds of UN member states, and the EU,. They can come from a variety of land and ocean-based sources; enter the water in many ways; and impact the ocean and Great Lakes. By employing people living in coastal regions, the group collects discarded plastic within 30 miles of waterways to prevent it from making its way to the sea. Along with HP, Ikea has announced that it, too, will partner with NextWave. As displayed in the photo above, plastic garbage patches cover vast parts of our shorelines; by 2050, our oceans will contain more tons of plastic than tons of fish (3)! The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. Urge international shipping giant, Maersk to stop shipping plastic waste from richer countries to less affluent countries. You may opt out at any time. Read the brief history of how plastic straws took over the world. As president, I will continue to do everything I can to stop other nations from making our oceans into their landfills, Trump said at a White House signing ceremony. Plastic pollution, therefore, is more than an environmental issue; it is increasingly becoming more an economic and human rights issue (4). This also includes tiny plastic fibres from clothes and microbeads think the tiny, abrasive pieces of plastic in your face wash which can pass through water filtration systems to oceans and rivers. Launched on 28 May, the ASEAN Regional Action Plan for Combating Marine Debris in the ASEAN Member States (2021-2025) provides a scalable, solution . Australia recently joined a necessary call for the world to end plastic pollution through a treaty. "Plastic pollution was already a global emergency, and with the pandemic-induced explosion in packaged goods, as well as increased of use of single-use plastics through masks, gloves and other PPE, it has become a global disaster," said Kristin Hughes, GPAP Director and a member of the World Economic Forum Executive Committee. Sustainable Investment Group (SIG). The state is working on a number of exemptions, for plastic of a certain thickness, products of a certain size, medical equipment, and other uses. The bill still needs to pass additional procedural measures before it can go into effect, but observers say its chances look good and could begin enforcement as early as 2021. The Plastic Pollution Action Team (PPAT) seeks to reduce the presence and impacts of plastic pollution on the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. There are four objectives: 1) draw conclusions from the results of eight plastic pollution hotspotting assessments; 2) recommend actions, instruments, and interventions; 3) discuss the findings and recommendations of policy and economic research; and 4) share the methodologies, with the aim that others can replicate the model. (Learn more about plastic straw bans and how the travel industry is cutting back on plastic straws.). Matt Simon is a science journalist at Wired magazine covering a range of beats, including biology, robotics, climate change, and microplastic pollution. Most councils wont accept them for recycling but they can be posted to specialist recycling plants which deal with trickier plastics including shopping bags and cling film. But even recycling has its limitations. The law follows Seattle's ban earlier in 2018 and aims to reduce the impact of plastic straws as litter. I am grateful to the Royal Statistical Society for the acknowledgement of the impact of this statistic, and while sobering, I am glad that it helps to spread awareness about the plastic waste management issues I see on the ground around the globe," Jambeck said in December. How do you explain dead whales washing up on beaches across the world, their stomachs jam packed with plastic bags? The story behind Japans surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, The Great Smog of London woke the world to the dangers of coal, At a temple in China, a Kung Fu master keeps the past alive, Christianity struggled to growuntil this skeptic became a believer, It took a village to build Europes Gothic cathedrals, Why the FDA may ease blood donor rules on gay, bisexual men. 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