We Are Still Burning Far Too Much Plastic

The first global inventory of plastic pollution was recently taken to ascertain just how much plastic pollution we are still generating and the results were not encouraging. A study that was recently published by the University of Leeds shone a light on the scale of plastic waste that continues to be generated globally. The University’s researchers modeled waste management with AI in about 50,000 municipalities all around the globe to give the most accurate picture of the current state of our world. Thanks to this model, the researchers were able to predict not only how much waste was generated, but what happens to it after it is burned.

The Study Results

The numbers surpassed the researchers' expectations, revealing an alarming 52 million metric tons of plastic products entering the environment. If all of this waste were arranged in a line, it would circle the Earth more than 1,500 times. Moreover, the study showed that uncollected rubbish makes up more than two-thirds of the planet’s plastic pollution and 15% of the global population does not even have access to waste collection services. Most of these 1.5 billion people that do not have city services to collect their waste are located in the Global South. Moreover, poorer countries are not only dealing with their own waste. Wealthier countries send plastic waste to poorer countries for them to deal with.

Arguably the biggest issue of all lies in how much plastic pollution is burned without any environmental controls in place. This amounts to 30 million metric tons of plastics or 57% of all plastic pollution. Without environmental regulations, these plastics are burned in irresponsible ways: on the streets, in dumpsites or in homes. The plastic waste can also be buried or dumped in rivers, directly poisoning surroundings. This poses a huge threat to human health, increasing the risk of reproductive, neurodevelopmental, and birth defects.

The Biggest Contributors to Plastic Pollution

Several countries contribute significantly to plastic pollution, with some burning more plastic than all others combined. In 2020, India alone burned approximately 5.8 million metric tons of plastic. Indonesia followed with around 1.9 million tons, and Russia burned 1.4 million tons.

Most of the 1.5 billion people that do not have city services to collect their waste are located in the Global South. The open uncontrolled burning of plastic is the most alarmingly effective and fastest way to pollute the air. It is exceedingly dangerous to release fine particulate pollution into the air because of its links to heart disease, neurological problems, cancer, lung issues, and respiratory disorders. This is thought to cause at least 7 million deaths every year.

How Can the Course Be Changed?

Plastic pollution is a pressing environmental challenge that needs to be addressed on both a large and small scale. Governments are rightfully put under pressure to mitigate the issue and a UN Treaty on plastic pollution is currently under negotiation as a result. It is crucial that open burning of plastic waste is seen as a key aspect of plastic pollution and an immediate health concern. Discourse has focused on the effects of microplastics as well as the endocrine-disrupting chemicals added to plastics, but the open burning of plastic waste should also be at the forefront of topics to address. 

Addressing this open burning needs to go beyond raising awareness and involve the informal recycling sector (which converts waste into tradable commodities). There should also always be clear labeling on plastics that are particularly harmful when burned. Additionally, we would go a long way towards fighting this form of pollution if hazardous plastics like PVC and Styrofoam were banned outright. Ultimately, effective policies will necessitate collaboration between environmental and health departments with a focus on shifting responsibility from consumers to manufacturers.