The United Nations highlighted on Tuesday the importance of government bans on plastic to cut back on waste, stressing that rigorous follow-through is vital for their efficacy.
In a report released on the UN World Environment Day, the world organization noted that rules limiting the use of plastic bags had decreased their use in places such as Morocco, Rwanda and parts of China, sometimes significantly. But elsewhere things haven't gone so well.
A ban on disposable plastics in New Delhi, for instance, has had only limited impact "because of poor enforcement," the report said.
The UN warned at current levels the earth could be awash with 12 billion tonnes of plastic trash by the middle of the century.
World Environment Day on Tuesday (Jun 5) is highlighting the perils of plastic with the tagline "if you can't reuse it, refuse it".
New Delhi has tried repeatedly over the past decade to ban the use of thin plastic bags, most recently announcing a heavy fine for rule-breakers. But the bags remain ubiquitous across the city, blowing in the wind, piled in ditches and readily offered in hundreds of thousands of shops. Elsewhere in India, including the states of Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh, there have been better results. India is hosting this year's World Environment Day.
"Our oceans have been used as a dumping ground, choking marine life and transforming some marine areas into a plastic soup," said Erik Solheim, head of UN Environment, in the report.
"In cities around the world, plastic waste clogs drains, causing foods and breeding disease. Consumed by livestock, it also finds its way into the food chain."
Most of this plastic garbage clogging waterways and landfill is single-use items like straws, bags and cutlery.
The report said the five trillion plastic bags consumed each year equaled nearly 10 million plastic bags per minute.
"If tied together, all these plastic bags could be wrapped around the world seven times every hour."
Some 79 percent of the plastic ever made has ended up dumped, with hardly any reused or destroyed despite recycling and other initiatives to curb use, the report said.
The UN said more than 60 countries had introduced bans and levies on single-use plastic items like bags.
But better waste management, financial incentives to change consumers' buying habits and research into alternative materials were needed to make any real change, it added.
Experts agree that while the problem seems daunting with plastic waste so ubiquitous throughout Asia, it is a crisis with a solution.
Social media campaigns calling for plastic bans and viral videos like the one featuring British diver Rich Horner swimming through clouds of trash off the coast of Bali have helped to spark pubic awareness.
Improved waste collection and reduced consumption have been flagged as crucial next steps.
Ocean Conservancy has also called for new plastic materials and product designs and more investment into waste-to-energy and waste-to-fuel schemes.
Garbage floating at sea costs fishing, shipping and tourism industries in Asia-Pacific $1.3 billion a year, the report says.
The UN said more than 60 countries had introduced bans and levies on single-use plastic items like bags.
But better waste management, financial incentives to change consumers' buying habits and research into alternative materials were needed to make any real change, it added.
"To meet the rising tide of plastics, we urgently need strong government leadership and intervention," the report said.
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