Plastic pollution is currently one of the most pressing environmental issues in the world, as thousands of plastic products produced every day overwhelm countries’ efforts to recycle them. This issue is so worrisome that it has incited efforts to write a global treaty negotiated by the United Nations. Approximately, 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans every year. Pressed to find viable solutions to this ever-growing problem, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) released a study in December 2020, which offered numerous methods and solutions to tackle the plastic pollution crisis in our waters. We spoke to Javier Mateo-Sagasta, Senior Researcher and Coordinator – Water Quality, IWMI, to learn more about the risks of plastic pollution.
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