Wednesday, 30 October 2019 / Published in LATEST NEWS

Marine plastic pollution: Towards a necessary plastic life cycle approach

Plastic pollution is not only a waste challenge, but a production, consumption and handling issue which must be tackled upstream where plastic is produced and consumed.

© Graphic Top 10 Polluters © Amanda Montañez; Source: “Export of Plastic Debris by Rivers into the Sea,” by Christian Schmidt et al., in Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 51, No. 21; November 7, 2017

There are 100 rivers worldwide that are 1000 km in length or more. Many of these rivers have names that are known throughout the world, evocative freshwater powerhouses. The Amazon, Mekong, Congo, Yangtze and Ganges are home to millions of people who rely on these waterways for food, transport, income and cultural traditions.

Whilst these rivers bring enormous advantages and benefits to people and nature, they are also often the dumping ground for waste. One major waste problem is plastic. As plastic is discarded into our waterways, rivers become conveyor belts of plastic debris, transporting this dangerous and toxic cargo into the world’s estuaries, deltas and oceans.

Time to take the next step
Time for change
#Swestep – All residues come to use

SOURCE: UCN Water Programme