Plastic bans among most effective ways to beat pollution, says UN

UN seeks a ban on single-use carrier bags as it reveals less than 10% of the plastic ever made has been recycled and countries aren't doing enough to curb pollution

Less than a 10th of all the plastic ever made has been recycled, and governments should consider banning or taxing single-use bags or food containers.

That is the damning claim that has emerged from a UN study that's been billed as the most comprehensive review of government action to curb single-use plastics.

It found that up to 5 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide each year. Spread out side-by-side, they would cover an area twice the size of France.

More than sixty nations are now taking action to reduce plastic pollution, according to the report. However, policies to curb plastic waste in many nations have failed because of poor enforcement.


Wed 6 Jun 2018 at 08:34