Waste and the environment: End postponed: Plastic waste negotiations continue

The hoped -for agreement on a global agreement against plastic waste is still a long time coming. After three years of negotiations and a ten -day final round in Geneva, the contract should actually be under roof and subject until Thursday evening. After intensive efforts with the glimmer of hope for an approximation, the conference chairman postponed the meeting of the 180 countries at shortly before midnight to Friday. At first remained open at the beginning.

A legally binding contract is to be negotiated in order to contain the tons of plastic waste that destroy ecosystems and endanger people’s health. The contract is intended to include the entire life cycle of the plastic, from production to design to the handling of waste.

Around the text takes place between two groups: Germany and more than 100 other countries want to limit plastic production to a sustainable level, move disposable plastic such as cutlery, cups and packaging and rely on reusable products, recycling and circular economy. On the other hand, there are countries that have the raw material for the plastic: oil. Among them are Saudi Arabia, Iran and Russia. These countries do everything to prevent production restrictions.

Plastic is filled with seas, environment and air, kills fish and other living things and endangers human health. The smallest particles are increasingly found in organs and also in the brain. According to the Federal Environment Ministry, plastics production has sifted from the 1970s to 367 million tons a year and could reach almost 600 million tons a year without measures. A large part therefore make up disposable products, including packaging. According to estimates, 152 million tons of plastic waste have accumulated in rivers and oceans.