Every year, 8 million tons of plastic waste end up in the world's oceans
As reported by "Russkaya Germaniya", the new environmental agreement was approved by 1,400 representatives from 187 countries on May 10 in Geneva. This was preceded by consultations that lasted 12 days. The document supplements the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, adopted in 1989.
The new pact enables developing countries to reject the import of waste from other countries and is binding, said Rolf Payet, Executive Secretary of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). According to UN data presented at the conference, humanity produces more than 300 million tons of plastic annually. 8 million tons end up in the world's oceans each year, with more than 100 million tons already there.
Increasingly, this material is causing the death of birds and fish. According to scientists, 90 percent of seabirds ingest plastic particles, and by 2050, if urgent measures are not taken, this figure will rise to 99 percent. Every year, one million birds die from the effects of plastic pollution.
Despite all the bans, the production of single-use plastic is still growing by 2-4% per year. According to the UN, 10 million single-use plastic bags are used every minute worldwide, and most of them end up in landfills and seas.
A number of countries, particularly the United States and Canada, export plastic waste to Asian countries, claiming that it is properly recycled there, although in reality the waste is not recyclable and a significant portion eventually finds its way into the oceans.
"Tightening the export rules under the Basel Convention is a major step forward and an effective measure against the growing volumes of waste in the seas," said German Environment Minister Svenja Schulze. According to her, the pact provides for the possibility of banning the export of plastic waste from the EU to Asia and Africa. According to the minister, Germany and other European countries are responsible for sorting and recycling their plastic waste, and with the new rules, the German authorities will be able to prevent it from entering the seas.
Against the backdrop of news about the adoption of the environmental pact, Mexico City decided to ban the use of plastic bags from 2020, as well as straws, utensils, balloons, and other single-use items from 2021. This law, according to authorities, should ultimately help Mexico City companies switch to biodegradable products, use environmentally friendly goods, and reduce waste.
In March 2019, the European Parliament approved a ban on single-use plastic utensils, bags, straws, cotton swabs, and coffee stirrers from 2021 in all EU countries. Also, EU countries must ensure a 90% collection rate for used plastic bottles by 2029. Plastic bags have already been banned, in particular, in Chile, Georgia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, South Africa, and New Zealand.