The world’s largest plastic polluter is now India, which is responsible for almost a fifth of global plastic emissions with 9.3 million tons of plastic waste annually, according to a scientific study published in the journal Nature. It is estimated that 52.1 million tons of plastic waste are emitted into the environment annually.
Researchers from the University of Leeds used advanced modeling techniques to map plastic waste emissions in 50,702 municipalities around the world. This high-resolution data provides unprecedented insights into the sources and distribution of plastic pollution, which can potentially change international policies, scientists hope.
Uncollected waste is the biggest problem
The study identifies uncollected waste as the biggest cause of plastic pollution, which accounts for 68 percent of all plastic waste emissions globally. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the main sources of plastic pollution and highlights the critical need to improve waste collection services, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
The study emphasizes that solving the problem of uncollected waste could have the greatest impact on reducing land-based sources of macroplastic pollution.
A stark contrast between the Global North and South was revealed. While high-income countries contribute only 0.3 percent of global plastic waste emissions, countries in South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia are the largest emitters. India leads the way, responsible for almost a fifth of global plastic emissions at 9.3 million tons per year.
Surprisingly, China, often considered the biggest plastic polluter according to earlier models, ranks fourth in this study. Researchers attribute this to China’s progress in adopting incineration practices and controlled landfills.
The study also points to the significant problem of open burning of plastic waste, which is often overlooked in discussions of plastic pollution. According to research, more plastic waste is burned in open, uncontrolled fires than is emitted as waste worldwide. This practice releases harmful substances and contributes to emissions that affect the climate.
The data could be the basis for a global agreement on plastic pollution
This new inventory comes as negotiations for a global agreement on plastic pollution are underway. The data provided by this study could serve as a key baseline for countries signatories to the agreement, allowing them to calculate and compare their plastic waste emissions, scientists hope.
The study suggests that, as with international climate change agreements, signatories to the Plastics Agreement will need to develop methods to calculate and compare their emissions. This inventory of shows allows them to do this with a high level of precision.
The researchers emphasize the need for a multisectoral approach to reducing plastic waste emissions, including addressing gaps in the entire product life cycle, redesigning product systems, reducing sources and improving recycling systems worldwide.
Source: Circular economy
Source: energetskiportal.rs
