People around the globe produce 57 million tons of plastic waste each year, according to new research published yesterday in the scientific journal Nature.
The study focused on plastic waste that ends up in the open environment or is burned illegally, excluding that properly managed in landfills or incinerators. The volume of this waste could fill New York’s Central Park and reach the height of the Empire State Building.
India is the largest producer, with 9.3 million tons per year, followed by Nigeria and Indonesia, which produce considerably less. China, often blamed for pollution, is fourth but is noted for its significant efforts in waste reduction, the researchers reported.
Greece produces 2,100 tons of plastic waste yearly and is ranked 147th among 195 countries.
These four countries, along with Nigeria, Indonesia, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia, and Brazil, produce more than 50% of the world’s annual plastic waste.
In 2022, most countries agreed to establish the first binding treaty to address plastic pollution, including in the oceans, with final negotiations scheduled for November in South Korea.
Plastic pollution in the open environment creates microplastics, which have even been found in human testes and are linked to problems in marine life and threats to human health.
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