Efforts to tackle plastic waste face challenges worldwide
Single-use plastics remain popular in countries like Thailand and Brazil, while recycling rates are still low.
Despite global efforts to curb plastic pollution, single-use plastic remains prevalent. Photo: Eugene LeeEach year, the world produces around 400 million tonnes of plastic waste, much of it discarded after just a few minutes of use.
Negotiators had hoped to reach the world’s first treaty on plastic pollution this year. Still, single-use plastic remains hugely popular as a cheap and convenient choice.
Thailand produces two million tonnes of plastic waste a year, according to the country’s Pollution Control Department.
The World Bank estimates 11 per cent of this waste goes uncollected and is burned, disposed of on land or leaks into rivers and the ocean.
Lagos, Nigeria banned single-use plastic in January, but it has had little impact so far. The United Nations estimates up to 60 million water sachets are discarded daily across the country.
In Brazil, bins along Rio’s beaches receive about 130 tonnes of waste daily.