<
https://theconversation.com/3-little-known-reasons-why-plastic-recycling-could-actually-make-things-worse-206060>
"This week in Paris, negotiators from around the world are convening for a
United Nations meeting. They will tackle a thorny problem: finding a globally
binding solution for plastic pollution.
Of the staggering 460 million tonnes of plastic used globally in 2019 alone,
much is used only once and thrown away. About 40% of plastic waste comes from
packaging. Almost two-thirds of plastic waste comes from items with lifetimes
of less than five years.
The plastic waste that escapes into nature persists and breaks up into smaller
and smaller pieces, eventually becoming microplastics. Plastics now contaminate
virtually every environment, from mountain peaks to oceans. Plastic has entered
vital systems such as our food chain and even the human blood stream.
Governments and industry increasingly acknowledge the urgent need to reduce
plastic pollution. They are introducing rules and incentives to help businesses
stop using single-use plastics while also encouraging collection and recycling.
As a sustainability researcher, I explore opportunities to reduce plastic waste
in sectors such as tourism, hospitality and meat production. I know how quickly
we could make big changes. But I’ve also seen how quick-fix solutions can
create complex future problems. So we must proceed with caution."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
