Classify plastic waste as hazardous: policies for managing plastic debris are outdated and threaten the health of people and wildlife
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This study suggests that plastic waste and pollution should be redefined as hazardous waste.
Authors – Chelsea M. Rochman, Mark Anthony Browne, Benjamin S. Halpern, Brian T. Hentschel, Eunha Hoh, Hrissi K. Karapanagioti, Lorena M. Rios-Mendoza, Hideshige Takada, Swee Teh & Richard C. Thompson
Summary
Policies for managing plastic debris are outdated and threaten the health of people and wildlife, say Chelsea M. Rochman, Mark Anthony Browne and colleagues. Last year, 280 million tonnes of plastic was produced globally. Less than half of it was consigned to landfill or recycled. Of the remaining 150 million tonnes, some may still be in use; the rest litters continents and oceans (see ‘Plastic world’).
