EARLIER this year I took part in the Big Plastic Count, a nationwide survey that invites people to count the plastic waste they throw away or recycle in a week.
The survey is conducted by Greenpeace and Everyday Plastic and aims to convince the UK government to do more to reduce plastic pollution.
In one week, I used 48 bits of plastic, over a year that’s 2,496 pieces. In total, the Big Plastic Count found that UK households are throwing away an estimated 1.7 billion pieces of plastic a week – 90 billion per year. Like most others who took part, I found that packaging from food and drink was the highest percentage of the plastic-type used, not all of which I could recycle. Full details of the research are available here.
The organisers are keen to make participants aware that the research is not about making us feel guilty about the amount of plastic packaging we use; it recognises that we have a limited selection of what our food and other essentials come in. What it does highlight is that excessive plastic is produced by supermarkets and big brands and that this type of packaging is often only used once and then thrown away.
Unfortunately, this type of packaging has an impact on the environment and our health. According to the European Commission, single-use plastic products are also more likely to end up in our seas than reusable alternatives. Once there, it has a devastating impact on marine life.
Stopping plastic pollution is one of the major environmental challenges we face. To address this issue in March 2022, the United Nations Environmental Assembly agreed to make the first legally binding treaty on plastic pollution by the end of this year. This new international agreement, the Global Plastics Treaty, aims to address the plastics crisis by tackling the harmful chemicals found in plastics, phasing out single-use plastics, and, crucially, reducing the amount of plastic that is produced in the first place.
Unsurprisingly, the biggest obstacle to the talks comes from the oil and gas producing nations who do not want a treaty that restricts their ability to extract and export fossil fuels to make plastic. They are supported by oil and gas companies who are trying to influence the negotiations as they see a potential market opportunity to expand the plastics side of their businesses. Worldwide plastic production continues to increase and is expected to double or even triple by 2050 if things stay the same.
Considering these challenges, we need to demand that the UK Government play its role in making sure the treaty is as robust and ambitious as possible – whilst at the same time pressing big brands to drastically reduce single-use plastic and focus on refillable and reusable products.
By Brian Mayne
The views expressed by columnists of this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of the Glamorgan Star, its employees or its proprietors.
- Pencoed tangled up by ‘Seaweeds’
- Primary school’s former deputy head is banned from teaching
- I make no apologies for calling Plaid Cymru ‘separatists’
⭐ All of our social media in one handy place – here
Pencoed tangled up by ‘Seaweeds’
Primary school’s former deputy head is banned from teaching
I make no apologies for calling Plaid Cymru ‘separatists’
‘The importance of participation and continued learning’
Opposition leaders clash with First Minister over independence rally
How Kevin saved a stranger’s life
