As the world struggles with the growing crisis of plastic pollution, Earth Action released its annual report on this year’s Plastic Overshoot Day (POD), September 5, 2024. The findings shed light on the troubling state of global plastic waste management, revealing the 12 countries responsible for a staggering 60 % of the world’s mismanaged plastic waste.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Major Polluters
The report identified China, India, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Vietnam, Iran, Indonesia, Egypt, Pakistan, the United States, and Turkey as the leading contributors to global plastic mismanagement. These nations are expected to generate together approximately 69.5 million tons of mismanaged plastic in 2024, which represent 60 % of the world’s expected mismanaged plastic.
Signs of Improvement?
Interestingly, Earth Action noted a slight improvement in global waste management practices, as evidenced by the shifting date of the “Plastic Overshoot Day”, which symbolizes the time of year when the amount of plastic waste produced by humans exceeds the capacity of waste management systems to manage it. Specifically, since 2021, the date has been moving closer to December, suggesting that countries are beginning to take action to mitigate plastic waste. Despite this small improvement, however, there has been a consistent rise in global plastic waste generation, from 205,948 kilotons in 2021 to 220,606 kilotons expected in 2024.
The Root Cause of Plastic Pollution
The report underscored that the imbalance between the volumes of plastic produced and used, and the world’s capacity to manage those volumes when they become waste, is the fundamental cause of plastic pollution. Additionally, the lack of effective waste management systems adds to the issue, leading to detrimental impacts on ecosystems, wildlife, and human health.
Conclusion
The Plastic Overshoot Day report serves as a wake-up call to governments, industries, and individuals alike. With millions of tons of plastic mismanaged annually, the urgency for a collective global strategy to address plastic pollution has never been clearer. As countries navigate the challenges ahead, collaboration and innovation will be essential to turning the tide on this demanding environmental issue.