Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Over 180 countries -- not including the US --
agree to restrict global plastic waste trade
The US emits more greenhouse gasses than any other country except for China but withdrew from the 2016 Paris Agreement to
deal with greenhouse-gas-emissions mitigation, adaptation, and finance.
Having been pushed by a global petition by
nearly one million people, most countries but the US have agreed to regulate the movement of plastic waste beyond borders just like hazardous materials. As covered
in Vol.2574 on May 4th, plastic waste from developed countries have
been sorted, cleaned and recycled in developing countries in Asia. However, the
import of plastic waste is exceeding the capacity of proper process and handling.
As a result, water and waste pollutions are becoming the most serious and
urgent problems, especially in the oceans and seas. According to the resolution,
prior consent is required from receiving countries before contaminated and
mixed plastic wastes are shipped. Now, exporting countries must ensure that plastic
wastes are clean and recyclable. Importing countries have the right to refuse
to receive plastic wastes that do not meet the requirements.
Of course, this agreement doesn’t solve the
problem overnight. However, it at least urges those exporting countries to
properly sort and clean the plastic waste before shipping, as well as to reduce
such wastes. As for the US, even though they did not join to sign the
agreement, their plastic wastes will not be imported unless the new
requirements are met. Why did the US show the world another negative attitude towards the environment?
Enjoy reading the article and start sorting and
cleaning your plastic wastes before they are collected.
No comments:
Post a Comment