New study reveals global plastic pollution hotspots

A groundbreaking study published in Nature has produced the first comprehensive global inventory of macroplastic pollution, revealing that an estimated 52.1 million tonnes of plastic waste are emitted into the environment annually.

The research, by Joshua Cottom, Ed Cook and Costas Velis at the University of Leeds, employs advanced modelling techniques to map plastic waste emissions across 50,702 municipalities worldwide. This high-resolution data provides unprecedented insights into the sources and distribution of plastic pollution, potentially reshaping international policy approaches.

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Uncollected waste dominates emissions

The study identifies uncollected waste as the largest contributor to plastic pollution, accounting for 68 per cent of all plastic waste emissions globally. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the primary sources of plastic pollution and highlights the critical need for improved waste collection services, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

The study highlights that addressing uncollected waste could have the most significant impact in reducing land-based macroplastic pollution sources.

The inventory reveals stark contrasts between the Global North and South. While high-income countries contribute only 0.3 per cent of global plastic waste emissions, countries in Southern Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South-eastern Asia are the largest emitters. India tops the list, responsible for nearly one-fifth of global plastic emissions at 9.3 million tonnes per year.

Surprisingly, China, often considered the world's highest plastic polluter in previous models, ranks fourth in this study. The researchers attribute this to China's recent progress in adopting waste incineration and controlled landfill practices.

Open burning: A hidden threat

The study also sheds light on the significant issue of open burning of plastic waste, a problem often overlooked in plastic pollution discussions. According to the research, more plastic waste is burned in open, uncontrolled fires than is emitted as debris worldwide. This practice releases harmful substances and contributes to climate-forcing emissions.

"The large mass of waste that is burned in open uncontrolled fires has not formed a central part of discussions at Plastics Treaty negotiations," the authors note. "Yet, according to our model, more plastic waste is burned than is emitted as debris worldwide."

Implications for global policy

This new inventory comes at a point when negotiations for a global treaty on plastic pollution are underway. The high-resolution data provided by this study could serve as a crucial baseline for treaty signatories, enabling them to calculate and compare their plastic waste emissions.

The study suggests that, as with international climate change agreements, signatories to the Plastics Treaty will require a method to calculate and baseline their plastic waste emissions so that they can compare them with others. This emissions inventory enables them to carry out these estimates at high resolution.

The researchers suggest that their findings can help inform treaty negotiations and develop national and sub-national waste management action plans. They emphasize the need for a multisectoral approach to mitigating plastic waste emissions, including addressing insufficiencies across the lifecycle, redesigning product systems, source reduction, and improving recycling systems worldwide.

As the global community grapples with the escalating plastic pollution crisis, this comprehensive inventory provides a solid foundation for evidence-based policymaking and targeted interventions. By identifying key hotspots and mechanisms of plastic pollution, it offers a roadmap for governments, industries, and international organizations to work towards a cleaner, more sustainable future.