Globally, 139 million tons of single-use plastics ended up in landfill in 2021. That’s 6 million tons more than in 2019. According to the Australian organization’s report, that equates to almost 1 kilogram more for every person on the planet. There is insufficient capacity to recycle all that waste, so that more and more plastic ends up in landfills, beaches, rivers and oceans.
Single-use plastics are plastic products that are only used once and then thrown away, such as plastic bags, cups, straws or foil. More than 80 percent of marine litter consists of plastic and harms the environment. It harms aquatic life and birds, and when broken down can also enter the human food chain.
Measures have been taken in all European member states since 3 July 2021 to reduce the impact of a dozen plastic disposable products, for which alternatives exist, on the environment. This includes a ban on the use of plastic plates, cutlery, straws, balloon sticks and cotton swabs. Similar measures have also been taken in the United States, India and China, as well as in some other countries.
