In a studio in Lagos, Nigeria an angel waits patiently as a team of artists work to get her ready for her portrait. The “angel” and her stylists are all being guided by the 27-year-old artist, Abdulrasaq Babalola.

Nigerian installation artists draw attention to plastic waste

A group of recyclers in the Philippines are trying to tackle the country's soaring plastic waste crisis by turning bottles, single-use sachets and snack food wrappers that clog rivers and spoil beaches into building materials.

Philippine recyclers group turn plastic waste into building planks

A group of recyclers in the Philippines is trying to ease the country's worsening plastic waste crisis by turning bottles, single-use sachets and snack food wrappers that clog rivers and spoil beaches into building materials.

The Plastic Flamingo, or "The Plaf", as they are commonly known, collect the waste, shred it and then mould it into posts and planks called "eco-lumber" that can be used for fencing, decking or even to make disaster-relief shelters.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/into-the-plastisphere-scientists-comb-japan-waters-to-study-new-eco-threat-423710">Into the 'plastisphere': Scientists comb Japan waters to study new eco threat</a>

"It&nbsp;is 100 per cent&nbsp;upcycled material, 100 per cent made from plastic waste materials, we also include some additives and colorants and it is rot-free, maintenance-free, and splinter-free," said Erica Reyes, The Plaf's chief operating officer.

Having collected over 100 tonnes of plastic waste to date, the social enterprise is doing its bit to address a local problem that has global ramifications.

Approximately 80 per cent of global ocean plastic comes from Asian rivers, and the Philippines alone contributes a third of that total, according to a 2021 report by Oxford University's Our World in Data.

The Philippines does not have a clear strategy on tackling its plastics problem and its environment department has said it has been in contact with manufacturers to identify ways to manage waste.

COVID-19, though, has made the battle against plastic waste harder to win.

Some 300 million tonnes of plastic waste are produced annually, according to the United Nations Environment Programme, a problem that has been exacerbated by the pandemic which sparked a rush for plastic face shields, gloves, takeaway food containers and bubble wrap as online shopping surged.

"People are unaware of how to dispose of these plastics," said Allison Tan, The Plaf's marketing associate.

"We give that avenue that instead of putting it in landfills or oceans you give it to recycling centres like us and we would upcycle them into better products."

As well as tackling waste problems, the group says it is in talks with other non-government organisations to help rebuild houses destroyed by typhoons using their sustainable building materials.

A group of recyclers in the Philippines is trying to ease the country's worsening plastic waste crisis by turning bottles, single-use sachets and snack food wrappers that clog rivers and spoil beaches into building materials.

A group of recyclers in the Philippines is trying to ease the country's worsening plastic waste crisis by turning bottles, single-use sachets and snack food wrappers that clog rivers and spoil beaches into building materials. The Plastic Flamingo, or "The Plaf", as they are commonly known, collect the waste, shred it and then mould it into posts and planks called "eco-lumber" that can be used for fencing, decking or even to make disaster-relief shelters. Also Read | Into the 'plastisphere': Scientists comb Japan waters to study new eco threat "It is 100 per cent upcycled material, 100 per cent made from plastic waste materials, we also include some additives and colorants and it is rot-free, maintenance-free, and splinter-free," said Erica Reyes, The Plaf's chief operating officer. Having collected over 100 tonnes of plastic waste to date, the social enterprise is doing its bit to address a local problem that has global ramifications. Approximately 80 per cent of global ocean plastic comes from Asian rivers, and the Philippines alone contributes a third of that total, according to a 2021 report by Oxford University's Our World in Data. The Philippines does not have a clear strategy on tackling its plastics problem and its environment department has said it has been in contact with manufacturers to identify ways to manage waste. COVID-19, though, has made the battle against plastic waste harder to win. Some 300 million tonnes of plastic waste are produced annually, according to the United Nations Environment Programme, a problem that has been exacerbated by the pandemic which sparked a rush for plastic face shields, gloves, takeaway food containers and bubble wrap as online shopping surged. "People are unaware of how to dispose of these plastics," said Allison Tan, The Plaf's marketing associate. "We give that avenue that instead of putting it in landfills or oceans you give it to recycling centres like us and we would upcycle them into better products." As well as tackling waste problems, the group says it is in talks with other non-government organisations to help rebuild houses destroyed by typhoons using their sustainable building materials.

In major ocean polluter Philippines, group turns plastic waste into planks

Description: In Brighton a nurse has used plastic waste as a raw material to create artwork. Sammie started carrying out daily beach cleaning just before the lockdown. During lockdown she began to make use of some of colourful waste she found transforming them into rainbow collages of art.

Brighton's nurse creates art from plastic litter

Environmentalists in Indonesia keen to send a message about the world's worsening ocean plastics crisis have created a museum made entirely from plastics, to convince people to rethink their habits and say no to single-use bags and bottles.

Indonesian museum made from plastic waste emphasises upon marine crisis

Scientists have called for a binding global treaty to phase out the production of new plastics by 2040.

According to a report published in the journal 'Science', researchers say that a world agreement on plastic pollution limits and controls could be the answer to reducing plastic pollution in the oceans and on land.

The material, which was discovered in 1907, has now become a threat to the environment. Globally, an estimated eight billion tonnes of plastic have been produced since the 1950s.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/plastic-pollution-is-booming-from-coronavirus-and-will-get-worse-after-the-pandemic-304641">Plastic pollution is booming from coronavirus and will get worse after the pandemic</a>

Nils Simon, one of the report authors calls plastic "ubiquitous" and says that it is prevalent everywhere, from terrestrial environments to inside the human body.&nbsp;

The same properties which make plastic so necessary in the modern world are also the things that endanger the environment.

Jesse Smith, senior editor at Science says that as for most of the new technology, plastic was developed without much thought to its possible effects, but now as the world is faced with the rapidly growing plastic problem "it's impossible to deny their dark side".&nbsp;

As per the report, a new global treaty should be drafted to address plastics on both sides of the supply chain, from materials extraction to the legacy pollution left from their use.

Almost half (47 per cent) of plastic waste comes from packaging materials, while 14 per cent is from textiles and 6 per cent comes from transport.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/plastic-pollution-flowing-into-oceans-to-triple-by-2040-study-315624">Plastic pollution flowing into oceans to triple by 2040: Study</a>

In the year 2010 alone, about 8 million tonnes of plastic ended up in the oceans, representing 3 per cent of the world's plastic waste. Yet, the production of the pollutant has continued to increase.

The year 2019 saw around 368 million tonnes of newly made plastics.&nbsp;

A global carbon budget of 10-13 per cent&nbsp;could be consumed by 2050 for the production of new plastics made from fossil fuels in order to meet the Paris climate agreement's requirement not to exceed 1.5C above pre-industrial temperatures.

The proposed binding global treaty calls for phasing out of virgin plastics by 2040. Other proposals include the creation of a circular economy, in which reuse and refill are incentivised, resulting in the elimination of significant amounts of plastic pollution. A global clean up of plastic waste is also advised.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Simon, one of the authors says that&nbsp;while still not completely understood, plastic pollution poses a significant threat to the environment, species and habitats, as well as cultural heritage.&nbsp;

He adds that plastics social impact is also doing considerable harm to human health, particularly&nbsp;affecting vulnerable communities and that&nbsp;it imposes substantial economic costs on regions that are tourist-dependent.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coke-pepsi-nestle-top-makers-of-plastic-waste-greenpeace-170482">Coke, Pepsi, Nestle top makers of plastic waste: Greenpeace</a>

A report by non-profit Tearfund revealed last year that&nbsp;Coca-cola, Nestle, PepsiCo and Unilever were by themselves responsible for over half a million tonnes of plastic pollution, or enough to cover 83 football fields every day.&nbsp;

Report authors Sarah Kakadellis and Gloria Rosetto also contend that plastic waste is poorly managed, and around 12,000 million tonnes of it is likely to accumulate in landfills and the environment by 2050, especially as a result of failing to address it.

&nbsp;

Scientists have called for a binding global treaty to phase out the production of new plastics by 2040. According to a report published in the journal 'Science', researchers say that a world agreement on plastic pollution limits and controls could be the answer to reducing plastic pollution in the oceans and on land.

Scientists have called for a binding global treaty to phase out the production of new plastics by 2040. According to a report published in the journal 'Science', researchers say that a world agreement on plastic pollution limits and controls could be the answer to reducing plastic pollution in the oceans and on land. The material, which was discovered in 1907, has now become a threat to the environment. Globally, an estimated eight billion tonnes of plastic have been produced since the 1950s. Also read | Plastic pollution is booming from coronavirus and will get worse after the pandemic Nils Simon, one of the report authors calls plastic "ubiquitous" and says that it is prevalent everywhere, from terrestrial environments to inside the human body. The same properties which make plastic so necessary in the modern world are also the things that endanger the environment. Jesse Smith, senior editor at Science says that as for most of the new technology, plastic was developed without much thought to its possible effects, but now as the world is faced with the rapidly growing plastic problem "it's impossible to deny their dark side". As per the report, a new global treaty should be drafted to address plastics on both sides of the supply chain, from materials extraction to the legacy pollution left from their use. Almost half (47 per cent) of plastic waste comes from packaging materials, while 14 per cent is from textiles and 6 per cent comes from transport. Also read | Plastic pollution flowing into oceans to triple by 2040: Study In the year 2010 alone, about 8 million tonnes of plastic ended up in the oceans, representing 3 per cent of the world's plastic waste. Yet, the production of the pollutant has continued to increase. The year 2019 saw around 368 million tonnes of newly made plastics. A global carbon budget of 10-13 per cent could be consumed by 2050 for the production of new plastics made from fossil fuels in order to meet the Paris climate agreement's requirement not to exceed 1.5C above pre-industrial temperatures. The proposed binding global treaty calls for phasing out of virgin plastics by 2040. Other proposals include the creation of a circular economy, in which reuse and refill are incentivised, resulting in the elimination of significant amounts of plastic pollution. A global clean up of plastic waste is also advised. Simon, one of the authors says that while still not completely understood, plastic pollution poses a significant threat to the environment, species and habitats, as well as cultural heritage. He adds that plastics social impact is also doing considerable harm to human health, particularly affecting vulnerable communities and that it imposes substantial economic costs on regions that are tourist-dependent. Also read | Coke, Pepsi, Nestle top makers of plastic waste: Greenpeace A report by non-profit Tearfund revealed last year that Coca-cola, Nestle, PepsiCo and Unilever were by themselves responsible for over half a million tonnes of plastic pollution, or enough to cover 83 football fields every day. Report authors Sarah Kakadellis and Gloria Rosetto also contend that plastic waste is poorly managed, and around 12,000 million tonnes of it is likely to accumulate in landfills and the environment by 2050, especially as a result of failing to address it.

Scientists call for binding global treaty to target production of new plastics

In 2002, Bangladesh has became the first country in the world to ban polythene. However, the government has not being able to create a alternate to polythene in the last two decades. According to a recent study, the plastic waste in Dhaka has tripled in the last two decades. Watch this report to know more.

Study: Plastic waste in Dhaka tripled in last 2 decades

Plastics have outgrown the majority of man-made materials and have long been scrutinised by environmentalists.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/plastic-in-oceans-to-outweigh-fish-china-to-ban-single-use-plastic-bags-and-straws-275644">Also read | Plastic in oceans to outweigh fish: China to ban single-use plastic bags and straws</a> 
 
The commercial business for polymers – long-chain synthetic molecules of which "plastics" is a common misnomer – has evolved significantly since its early beginnings during and after World War II. In 2015, over 320 million tons of polymers, excluding fibres, were manufactured across the globe. 
 
Watch | Study: Plastic waste in oceans to triple by 2040

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/study-plastic-waste-in-oceans-to-triple-by-2040-315783/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

According to the European industry group PlasticsEurope, global plastics production fell by 0.3 per cent in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus epidemic, only the third time output has dropped since World War II.&nbsp;

In Europe, plastics output was down 5.1 per cent last year, PlasticsEurope said in a statement.

Previously, global plastics output fell as a result of the oil crisis in 1973 and then the financial crisis in 2008.

(With inputs from agencies)

Plastics have outgrown the majority of man-made materials and have long been scrutinised by environmentalists. Also read | Plastic in oceans to outweigh fish: China to ban single-use plastic bags and straws The commercial business for polymers – long-chain synthetic molecules of which "plastics" is a common misnomer – has evolved significantly since its early beginnings during and after World War II.

Plastics have outgrown the majority of man-made materials and have long been scrutinised by environmentalists. Also read | Plastic in oceans to outweigh fish: China to ban single-use plastic bags and straws The commercial business for polymers – long-chain synthetic molecules of which "plastics" is a common misnomer – has evolved significantly since its early beginnings during and after World War II. In 2015, over 320 million tons of polymers, excluding fibres, were manufactured across the globe. Watch | Study: Plastic waste in oceans to triple by 2040 According to the European industry group PlasticsEurope, global plastics production fell by 0.3 per cent in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus epidemic, only the third time output has dropped since World War II. In Europe, plastics output was down 5.1 per cent last year, PlasticsEurope said in a statement. Previously, global plastics output fell as a result of the oil crisis in 1973 and then the financial crisis in 2008. (With inputs from agencies)

Worldwide plastics production falls in 2020 for the first time since 2008: Report

Refusing to be treated as a garbage pit, Turkey is banning the import of most plastic waste in the country.

A recent investigation revealed that several items of garbage, being presumed to be British recycling, were left to be dumped on beaches and roadsides of Turkey.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/what-if-space-junk-and-climate-change-become-the-same-problem-386124" hreflang="en">What if space junk and climate change become the same problem?</a>

The investigation was conducted by Greenpeace, whose experts visited 10 sites in the southern city of Adana in March and found several British companies’ packaging in illegal waste mountains, beaches, roadsides and other locations.

Researchers found packaging from Tesco, Lidl, Marks &amp; Spencer, Asda, Co-op, Sainsbury’s, Poundland, Spar, etc — all of which are British supermarkets — left in bags or simply dumped in the shape of small hills.

It has been revealed that the UK has been treating Turkey as a garbage pit and has been extensively exporting its waste to Turkey, even though the latter’s recycling rate is only 12 per cent. The export of plastic waste from the UK has increased towards Turkey since 2018 when China banned all imports.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/meet-climate-changes-latest-offering-to-earth-zombie-wildfires-386102" hreflang="en">Meet climate change's latest offering to Earth - 'Zombie wildfires'</a>

Turns out, the UK is not the only country mistreating Turkey as a dumping ground. Other European countries have also been exporting their plastic waste to Turkey, although the UK and EU have rules against exporting waste to countries that do not have a high recycling percentage.

Making sure nobody treats the country as a dumping ground anymore, the Turkish government has announced plans to ban the imports of plastic waste from all countries. The ban includes polythene plastic waste but excludes pet plastic bottles.

"People have been appalled to see images of UK household waste dumped and burned in Turkey. The UK government must put a stop to our plastic waste impacting other countries. We need a complete ban on all plastic waste exports and legislation to make UK companies reduce the amount of plastic they produce in the first place," Sam Chetan-Welsh, political campaigner at Greenpeace UK said.

Refusing to be treated as a garbage pit, Turkey is banning the import of most plastic waste in the country. A recent investigation revealed that several items of garbage, being presumed to be British recycling, were left to be dumped on beaches and roadsides of Turkey.

Refusing to be treated as a garbage pit, Turkey is banning the import of most plastic waste in the country. A recent investigation revealed that several items of garbage, being presumed to be British recycling, were left to be dumped on beaches and roadsides of Turkey. Also read | What if space junk and climate change become the same problem? The investigation was conducted by Greenpeace, whose experts visited 10 sites in the southern city of Adana in March and found several British companies’ packaging in illegal waste mountains, beaches, roadsides and other locations. Researchers found packaging from Tesco, Lidl, Marks & Spencer, Asda, Co-op, Sainsbury’s, Poundland, Spar, etc — all of which are British supermarkets — left in bags or simply dumped in the shape of small hills. It has been revealed that the UK has been treating Turkey as a garbage pit and has been extensively exporting its waste to Turkey, even though the latter’s recycling rate is only 12 per cent. The export of plastic waste from the UK has increased towards Turkey since 2018 when China banned all imports. Also read | Meet climate change's latest offering to Earth - 'Zombie wildfires' Turns out, the UK is not the only country mistreating Turkey as a dumping ground. Other European countries have also been exporting their plastic waste to Turkey, although the UK and EU have rules against exporting waste to countries that do not have a high recycling percentage. Making sure nobody treats the country as a dumping ground anymore, the Turkish government has announced plans to ban the imports of plastic waste from all countries. The ban includes polythene plastic waste but excludes pet plastic bottles. "People have been appalled to see images of UK household waste dumped and burned in Turkey. The UK government must put a stop to our plastic waste impacting other countries. We need a complete ban on all plastic waste exports and legislation to make UK companies reduce the amount of plastic they produce in the first place," Sam Chetan-Welsh, political campaigner at Greenpeace UK said.

Not a garbage pit: Turkey bans import of plastic waste after UK's increased export percentage

The once pristine beaches of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil have been engulfed in plastic waste, tons of trashes thrown into the ocean each year suffocating marine life and polluting the beaches and waters.

Environmentalists in Brazil call for action to clean up beaches

The island of Bali is famous the world over its turquoise beaches every year tourists around the world visit for their dreamy holiday. But Island is also facing non-biodegradable plastic waste brought in by strong waves ashore. How People of Bali deal with this chronic problem. Here's the report.

Massive Clean up begins on Bali's beach as army of local volunteers begin cleaning

A group of scientists has created a “super-enzyme” that could, they hope, help to solve the world’s plastic problems.

The super-enzyme that eats plastic could be “a significant leap forward” in finding solutions to tackle the pollution crisis, scientists hope.

The enzyme is derived from bacteria that evolved the ability to eat plastic.

"Unlike natural degradation, which can take hundreds of years, the super-enzyme is able to convert the plastic back to its original materials, or building blocks, in just a few days," said Professor John McGeehan, director of the Centre for Enzyme Innovation (CEI) at the University of Portsmouth.

According to a study, the amount of plastic waste flowing into the ocean and killing marine life could triple in the next 20 years, unless companies and governments can drastically reduce plastic production.

China is the top source of plastic bottles, bags and other rubbish clogging up global sea lanes, according to the latest country-wise data available.

Around the world, one million plastic drinking bottles are purchased every minute, while up to 5 trillion single-use plastic bags are used worldwide every year. In total, half of all plastic produced is designed to be used only once — and then thrown away.

(With inputs from agencies)

A group of scientists has created a “super-enzyme” that could, they hope, help to solve the world’s plastic problems. The super-enzyme that eats plastic could be “a significant leap forward” in finding solutions to tackle the pollution crisis, scientists hope.

A group of scientists has created a “super-enzyme” that could, they hope, help to solve the world’s plastic problems. The super-enzyme that eats plastic could be “a significant leap forward” in finding solutions to tackle the pollution crisis, scientists hope. The enzyme is derived from bacteria that evolved the ability to eat plastic. "Unlike natural degradation, which can take hundreds of years, the super-enzyme is able to convert the plastic back to its original materials, or building blocks, in just a few days," said Professor John McGeehan, director of the Centre for Enzyme Innovation (CEI) at the University of Portsmouth. According to a study, the amount of plastic waste flowing into the ocean and killing marine life could triple in the next 20 years, unless companies and governments can drastically reduce plastic production. China is the top source of plastic bottles, bags and other rubbish clogging up global sea lanes, according to the latest country-wise data available. Around the world, one million plastic drinking bottles are purchased every minute, while up to 5 trillion single-use plastic bags are used worldwide every year. In total, half of all plastic produced is designed to be used only once — and then thrown away. (With inputs from agencies)

Enzyme eats plastic 6 times faster: Significant leap forward in pollution crisis

Volunteers in Malaysia's Tioman Island round up every weekend to gather plastic wastes from the beaches. But rather than burn or bury the trash, it is being recycled into plastic pellets so that it can be used to make a range of products from auto parts to home appliances and furniture.

Ocean-bound plastic waste recycled into furniture, goods in Malaysia

Every weekend, volunteers gather on Malaysia's resort island of Tioman to gather ocean-bound plastic that can eventually be transformed into pellets and made into a range of products including auto parts, home appliances and furniture, with help from a recycling plant.

Malaysian recycler transforms ocean-bound plastic waste into furniture, goods

Authorities do not routinely organise recycling in Mynamar, while around 2,500 tonnes of trash is thrown out every day in Yangon

WION Fineprint: Monk seeks to change people's behaviour on plastic

When a prominent Buddhist monk in Myanmar noticed a surge in plastic waste generated by residents in his Yangon neighborhood during the pandemic, he decided to do something about it.

But Abbot Ottamasara, who runs the Thabarwa meditation centre, was taken aback by the response to his request for plastic containers as a substitute for bowls used by his monastery to feed thousands of people in need.

Helped by dozens of volunteers, his team now receives several thousand used plastic bottles a day from the community, with some recycled as food containers and others incorporated into building materials used at the meditation centre.

“More plastic waste was being dumped on the street during the pandemic,” said Ottamasara, 51, who launched the recycling drive three months ago after seeing waste piling up on the streets during daily walks to collect food donations.

Authorities do not routinely organise recycling in Myanmar, while around 2,500 tonnes of trash are thrown out everyday in Yangon, often dumped on roads and in waterways, or burned.

“If we (the meditation centre) ask for donations, people will keep them clean,” said Ottamasara, who uses one name. “Then we can use these plastic bottles as food containers and it not only saves money, but also tackles the plastic waste issue.”

He estimates two tonnes of plastic waste, or around 200,000 plastic bottles, have been recycled so far, saving around $10,000.

The nine acre (3.6 hectare) meditation centre hosts workshops to process the plastic waste.

Volunteers use hanging plastic bottles to make sunshades and have even constructed a shelter using car tyres packed with plastic waste and cement to form the walls.

When a prominent Buddhist monk in Myanmar noticed a surge in plastic waste generated by residents in his Yangon neighborhood during the pandemic, he decided to do something about it.

When a prominent Buddhist monk in Myanmar noticed a surge in plastic waste generated by residents in his Yangon neighborhood during the pandemic, he decided to do something about it. But Abbot Ottamasara, who runs the Thabarwa meditation centre, was taken aback by the response to his request for plastic containers as a substitute for bowls used by his monastery to feed thousands of people in need. Helped by dozens of volunteers, his team now receives several thousand used plastic bottles a day from the community, with some recycled as food containers and others incorporated into building materials used at the meditation centre. “More plastic waste was being dumped on the street during the pandemic,” said Ottamasara, 51, who launched the recycling drive three months ago after seeing waste piling up on the streets during daily walks to collect food donations. Authorities do not routinely organise recycling in Myanmar, while around 2,500 tonnes of trash are thrown out everyday in Yangon, often dumped on roads and in waterways, or burned. “If we (the meditation centre) ask for donations, people will keep them clean,” said Ottamasara, who uses one name. “Then we can use these plastic bottles as food containers and it not only saves money, but also tackles the plastic waste issue.” He estimates two tonnes of plastic waste, or around 200,000 plastic bottles, have been recycled so far, saving around $10,000. The nine acre (3.6 hectare) meditation centre hosts workshops to process the plastic waste. Volunteers use hanging plastic bottles to make sunshades and have even constructed a shelter using car tyres packed with plastic waste and cement to form the walls.

Myanmar's upcycling monk leads push to cut plastic waste

Interpol strategic new report on global plastic waste management has found an alarming increase in illegal plastic pollution trade across the world since 2018. Interpol report exposes inefficient enforcement systems. According to the reports bulk of the illegal shipments ends up in Southeast Asia.

Interpol raises alarm over sharp rise in plastic waste crime

Ambrose D’Mello is 52-year-old and has been on a silent protest since 2005. He is protesting against the sale of packaged drinking water. He carries a slate with him to communicate by writing on it using a small piece of a damp cloth. Watch this video to know more about D’Mello's fight.

This 52-year-old man is on a 'Silent Protest' to make 'Big Noise'

Packages used for eatables act as a major pollutant for water bodies as they take centuries to decompose.

A <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sc-allows-centre-to-bring-african-cheetah-to-suitable-wildlife-habitat-in-india-277010">South African</a> startup called Munch Bowls has come up with a tasty solution to cut down the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/plastic-in-oceans-to-outweigh-fish-china-to-ban-single-use-plastic-bags-and-straws-275644">plastic</a> dishware.

The company claims to have created a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/video-analysis-converting-biodegradable-waste-into-compost-can-help-boost-the-green-cover-270664">biodegradable</a> bowl which is made up of wheat and&nbsp;can be eaten as a part of our meal.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/plastic-in-oceans-to-outweigh-fish-china-to-ban-single-use-plastic-bags-and-straws-275644">Plastic in oceans to outweigh fish</a>

The bowls are vegan and can hold hot soup for up to five hours.

They have a shelf life of 15 months.

They can be used at all sorts of occasions such as picnics, parties and corporate events.&nbsp;

Bowls have been sold by the startup says to hotels and companies in the hospitality industry in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sc-allows-centre-to-bring-african-cheetah-to-suitable-wildlife-habitat-in-india-277010">South Africa</a>, Belgium, Singapore and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/dubais-burj-khalifa-gets-struck-by-lightning-273835">Dubai</a>.

Although the bowls were originally handmade, the company has recently commissioned a machine that can produce 500 bowls per hour to keep up with the increasing demand.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-single-use-plastic-is-killing-the-earth-248688">How single-use plastic is killing the Earth</a>

According to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-rights-recommendations-to-be-taken-seriously-maduro-229391">United Nations</a>, 300 million tons of plastic waste every year is produced every year which is nearly the equivalent to the weight of the entire human population but only 14 percent&nbsp;of that is recycled.

Munch Bowls was launched in 2014 by Georgina de Kock, an artist and entrepreneur.

She had worked at food markets and becoming dismayed at the amount of packaging used to serve street food.

"I was looking around and just noticing all the rubble that is created by us humans, and it really started irritating me," she said.

The bowls eliminate the waste generated from disposable containers, or the products and time needed to clean reusable ones, the company claims.

A price of a&nbsp;large bowl is approximately 33 cents.

Georgina&nbsp;argues that although this is more expensive than traditional plastic packaging, the bowls have nutritional value and can be integrated into a healthy diet.

Natural ingredients are used to make the bowls.

These include rooibos extract, a South African plant and natural preservative that is high in antioxidants.

Plain flavor bowls can be purchased by consumers as savory food and whereas, sweet flavour bowls can be purchased for desserts.

The company is&nbsp;scaling&nbsp;up its operations.

By the end of 2020, the startup hopes to install six production lines and to make other products such as spoons, coffee cups and containers for meals on flights.

An Indian company called Bakeys also manufactures edible cutlery.

It was invented by Narayana Peespaty in 2011.

They make different types of spoons in a variety of flavours which&nbsp;do not dissolve or crack in hot water.

Packages used for eatables act as a major pollutant for water bodies as they take centuries to decompose. A South African startup called Munch Bowls has come up with a tasty solution to cut down the plastic dishware.

Packages used for eatables act as a major pollutant for water bodies as they take centuries to decompose. A South African startup called Munch Bowls has come up with a tasty solution to cut down the plastic dishware. The company claims to have created a biodegradable bowl which is made up of wheat and can be eaten as a part of our meal. Also read: Plastic in oceans to outweigh fish The bowls are vegan and can hold hot soup for up to five hours. They have a shelf life of 15 months. They can be used at all sorts of occasions such as picnics, parties and corporate events. Bowls have been sold by the startup says to hotels and companies in the hospitality industry in South Africa, Belgium, Singapore and Dubai. Although the bowls were originally handmade, the company has recently commissioned a machine that can produce 500 bowls per hour to keep up with the increasing demand. Also see: How single-use plastic is killing the Earth According to the United Nations, 300 million tons of plastic waste every year is produced every year which is nearly the equivalent to the weight of the entire human population but only 14 percent of that is recycled. Munch Bowls was launched in 2014 by Georgina de Kock, an artist and entrepreneur. She had worked at food markets and becoming dismayed at the amount of packaging used to serve street food. "I was looking around and just noticing all the rubble that is created by us humans, and it really started irritating me," she said. The bowls eliminate the waste generated from disposable containers, or the products and time needed to clean reusable ones, the company claims. A price of a large bowl is approximately 33 cents. Georgina argues that although this is more expensive than traditional plastic packaging, the bowls have nutritional value and can be integrated into a healthy diet. Natural ingredients are used to make the bowls. These include rooibos extract, a South African plant and natural preservative that is high in antioxidants. Plain flavor bowls can be purchased by consumers as savory food and whereas, sweet flavour bowls can be purchased for desserts. The company is scaling up its operations. By the end of 2020, the startup hopes to install six production lines and to make other products such as spoons, coffee cups and containers for meals on flights. An Indian company called Bakeys also manufactures edible cutlery. It was invented by Narayana Peespaty in 2011. They make different types of spoons in a variety of flavours which do not dissolve or crack in hot water.

Edible and biodegradable bowls, tasty solution to cut down plastic waste

Visiting hill stations in India is a sad affair. I keep on running to them because I saw most of the majestic mountains with my father. The visits evoke powerful childhood memories, but each time I go I end up coming back to Delhi less satisfied and more disturbed.

Even the best of the virgin forests have been ravaged by plastic. The new infrastructure has been built but it ends up obliterating and destroying the history of the place. Be it Dehradun, Mussoorie or any other town which was discovered, settled and built by the British during pre-independent India, has now been ravaged beyond repair.

The crass commercialisation has robbed pristine charm from towns, urban-villages and even remote areas used for adventure tourism. Unlike the West and especially Europe, the older urban settlements are treated with care. The settlements preserve history through architecture and life cycle. There is a heritage value attached to the place. People of the town become the custodian of the place. Even remote cities like Vladivostok in Russia which has seen a massive urban renewal in the last 20 years have preserved monuments related to Czars and older Russia. Even Singapore which has seen massive rebuilding has been able to preserve Little India where tourists spend hours in the end for fun and food.

In India, the opposite seems to have happened. The modern urban incentive for immediate business has destroyed pristine places and finished a sense of ownership of the place. The logic of immediate benefit not only destroys the place but also ends up dislocating local community life in the long run.

The first example which comes to my mind is the small property which I and my brother own in a remote village adjacent to Pangot. The road from the hill station of Pangot ends 2 km after our village into virgin forest. The local developers want the road to reach the plains so that travel time can be cut to avoid travelling to Nanital to reach Haldwani, a trading town nestled on the foothills of Himalayas.

The local developers want this road cut through the dense forest and reach the town built adjacent to Jim Corbett National Park. When I ask, what will happen when trucks will start plying through the bird sanctuary and adjacent reserve forest on which tourist industry is based, the answer is the same. “Yeh bahut door ki baat kar dee.”

Both people and state have failed to create a sense of custodianship of jungles and tourist towns based on nature’s beauty in India. The massive construction in the Himalayas is not only destroying the beauty,&nbsp;but also incurring great ecological damage. In one of the walks I took from a guest house nestled 15 km from Dehradun on a less used road to Mussoorie, I found every corner with a Maggie Point. Comfort food but each shop in the middle of the Saal forest was adjacent to a dump pile. There was no sense of ownership. The lack of it is not limited to the working but also to the rich who have built ugly buildings right inside the reserve areas by bending the rules.

Not one city, from Tawang in the east to Dehradun and Shimla in the West has been able to retain its ethnic style of architecture or build a new one. The colonial structures are either with the government or Army. Rest have withered away.

Not only tourist places in mountains lack architectural style but also a policy which would enable it to have a character. It was heartening to see open defecation free semi-urban villages nestled in remote areas, but they continue to be devoid of garbage management facility.

I have been travelling to the Himalayas from the last 30 years. I have been privileged to have travelled in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh extensively. The modernity has definitely provided the benefit of communication, tourism and better lifestyle but lack of ownership of nature and rampant urbanisation without retaining the character of the place coupled with plastic has destroyed many pristine places.

There is still time to salvage beautiful places, but it would require civic action from people living in urban areas. These urban areas should become agents of change and conservation through poetry, art and public participation apart from just acting as economic engines of the state.

In the absence of the former, the economic engine would also fail because the engine rests on the beauty and grandeur of the Himalayas which we seem to be intent on destroying. We desperately need a new type of urban renewal movement where people take over space from corrupt government and crony capitalists, who for quick money have destroyed many beautiful towns and countryside in the Himalayas.

The village where we have the house passes through Pangot. It is a classic example of urban monstrosity. What should have remained a birders paradise with nature blending architecture has turned into a garish mall which only ends up destroying nature without sustaining the local economy in the long run. None of them provides food outsourced from local communities. None of them re-cycle waste. None of them uses local material for building. None of them uses conservation techniques. And by the end of the day, all of them will end up destroying the edifice on which their business is built. 
 
(Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Visiting hill stations in India is a sad affair. I keep on running to them because I saw most of the majestic mountains with my father. The visits evoke powerful childhood memories, but each time I go I end up coming back to Delhi less satisfied and more disturbed.

Visiting hill stations in India is a sad affair. I keep on running to them because I saw most of the majestic mountains with my father. The visits evoke powerful childhood memories, but each time I go I end up coming back to Delhi less satisfied and more disturbed. Even the best of the virgin forests have been ravaged by plastic. The new infrastructure has been built but it ends up obliterating and destroying the history of the place. Be it Dehradun, Mussoorie or any other town which was discovered, settled and built by the British during pre-independent India, has now been ravaged beyond repair. The crass commercialisation has robbed pristine charm from towns, urban-villages and even remote areas used for adventure tourism. Unlike the West and especially Europe, the older urban settlements are treated with care. The settlements preserve history through architecture and life cycle. There is a heritage value attached to the place. People of the town become the custodian of the place. Even remote cities like Vladivostok in Russia which has seen a massive urban renewal in the last 20 years have preserved monuments related to Czars and older Russia. Even Singapore which has seen massive rebuilding has been able to preserve Little India where tourists spend hours in the end for fun and food. In India, the opposite seems to have happened. The modern urban incentive for immediate business has destroyed pristine places and finished a sense of ownership of the place. The logic of immediate benefit not only destroys the place but also ends up dislocating local community life in the long run. The first example which comes to my mind is the small property which I and my brother own in a remote village adjacent to Pangot. The road from the hill station of Pangot ends 2 km after our village into virgin forest. The local developers want the road to reach the plains so that travel time can be cut to avoid travelling to Nanital to reach Haldwani, a trading town nestled on the foothills of Himalayas. The local developers want this road cut through the dense forest and reach the town built adjacent to Jim Corbett National Park. When I ask, what will happen when trucks will start plying through the bird sanctuary and adjacent reserve forest on which tourist industry is based, the answer is the same. “Yeh bahut door ki baat kar dee.” Both people and state have failed to create a sense of custodianship of jungles and tourist towns based on nature’s beauty in India. The massive construction in the Himalayas is not only destroying the beauty, but also incurring great ecological damage. In one of the walks I took from a guest house nestled 15 km from Dehradun on a less used road to Mussoorie, I found every corner with a Maggie Point. Comfort food but each shop in the middle of the Saal forest was adjacent to a dump pile. There was no sense of ownership. The lack of it is not limited to the working but also to the rich who have built ugly buildings right inside the reserve areas by bending the rules. Not one city, from Tawang in the east to Dehradun and Shimla in the West has been able to retain its ethnic style of architecture or build a new one. The colonial structures are either with the government or Army. Rest have withered away. Not only tourist places in mountains lack architectural style but also a policy which would enable it to have a character. It was heartening to see open defecation free semi-urban villages nestled in remote areas, but they continue to be devoid of garbage management facility. I have been travelling to the Himalayas from the last 30 years. I have been privileged to have travelled in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh extensively. The modernity has definitely provided the benefit of communication, tourism and better lifestyle but lack of ownership of nature and rampant urbanisation without retaining the character of the place coupled with plastic has destroyed many pristine places. There is still time to salvage beautiful places, but it would require civic action from people living in urban areas. These urban areas should become agents of change and conservation through poetry, art and public participation apart from just acting as economic engines of the state. In the absence of the former, the economic engine would also fail because the engine rests on the beauty and grandeur of the Himalayas which we seem to be intent on destroying. We desperately need a new type of urban renewal movement where people take over space from corrupt government and crony capitalists, who for quick money have destroyed many beautiful towns and countryside in the Himalayas. The village where we have the house passes through Pangot. It is a classic example of urban monstrosity. What should have remained a birders paradise with nature blending architecture has turned into a garish mall which only ends up destroying nature without sustaining the local economy in the long run. None of them provides food outsourced from local communities. None of them re-cycle waste. None of them uses local material for building. None of them uses conservation techniques. And by the end of the day, all of them will end up destroying the edifice on which their business is built. (Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The sorry state of Himalayas

The city of Bengaluru produces over 5,000 tonnes of garbage every day. While the city administration has attempted to impose no-plastic and segregation-at-source rules strictly, there is no 100 per cent adherence from the citizens and workers. But a juice cafe owner in the city is now proving that it is possible to go the zero-waste route.&nbsp;

Raja, a radio jockey, emcee, entrepreneur and self-proclaimed waste engineer runs the city's first zero-waste juice bar. The outlet has been drawing quite a buzz as Raja serves his special drinks in organic cups that are nothing but fruit shells and peels. This zero-waste cafe has completely done away with plastic and paper usage to promote sustainability.&nbsp;

"This is a 100 per cent zero-waste cafe. We have nothing that we throw out. We don’t use paper, plastic, carry bag, cups or straws since 2018. There is no dry waste at all. The only waste being generated is the fruit waste of which we do factory level segregation. We segregate the fruit waste at source into citrus, non-citrus. The citrus fruits are used to make bio-enzyme and the rest of it either gets composted or is used as cow feed. The seeds are used to make art-work, jewellery and rangolis. The whole idea was to repurpose everything that is thrown as waste" Raja tells WION. &nbsp;

Raja was inspired to transform his cafe into a zero-waste eatery when he saw the South African city of Cape Town go dry in 2018. Some studies had also predicted that Bengaluru could be the next city to follow.&nbsp;

"I realised that at my juice centre, we were using nearly 250ml of water to wash each glass. If I was selling 100 glasses of juice a day, it meant that I was flushing out 25 litres of water down the drain. I realised it was a criminal waste of water, especially when the whole world is facing a crisis. So I got thinking if we can do something better. Since I am an engineer, I realised if I do not engineer the process of saving something then there is no point in studying the course. I looked at the fruits and I saw that the smaller watermelons, when halved, could be used to serve the juice that was made from its pulp," he says.&nbsp;

Using fruit shells as cups has not only helped save water but also reduced waste and minimised labour time for his staff. The used shells are then supplied to cattle owners as fodder. Today, Raja uses fruits like watermelons, musk melons, sun melons, oranges, guavas, bananas and several other fruits to serve the juices.&nbsp;

"Now I have 22 different varieties of fruits and vegetables that I serve my juices in. I am the owner of India’s first juice bar to serve juices only in fruit shells. We don’t use glasses at all," says Raja, exuding pride.&nbsp;

Raja does not see this model just as a service to the society but believes that waste is wealth which can be monetised. He is currently working to build a network of juice centres that can segregate the waste supply it to farms and cattle owners.&nbsp;

"I see myself as a waste engineer because there is a lot to be monetised from waste. I hold workshops where we say you can make cash out of trash. I am planning to ask cattle owners to give me milk in exchange for the fodder as I have stopped using milk packets because it generates plastic waste. There is economy in waste" Raja concludes.&nbsp;

The city of Bengaluru produces over 5,000 tonnes of garbage every day. While the city administration has attempted to impose no-plastic and segregation-at-source rules strictly, there is no 100 per cent adherence from the citizens and workers.

The city of Bengaluru produces over 5,000 tonnes of garbage every day. While the city administration has attempted to impose no-plastic and segregation-at-source rules strictly, there is no 100 per cent adherence from the citizens and workers. But a juice cafe owner in the city is now proving that it is possible to go the zero-waste route. Raja, a radio jockey, emcee, entrepreneur and self-proclaimed waste engineer runs the city's first zero-waste juice bar. The outlet has been drawing quite a buzz as Raja serves his special drinks in organic cups that are nothing but fruit shells and peels. This zero-waste cafe has completely done away with plastic and paper usage to promote sustainability. "This is a 100 per cent zero-waste cafe. We have nothing that we throw out. We don’t use paper, plastic, carry bag, cups or straws since 2018. There is no dry waste at all. The only waste being generated is the fruit waste of which we do factory level segregation. We segregate the fruit waste at source into citrus, non-citrus. The citrus fruits are used to make bio-enzyme and the rest of it either gets composted or is used as cow feed. The seeds are used to make art-work, jewellery and rangolis. The whole idea was to repurpose everything that is thrown as waste" Raja tells WION. Raja was inspired to transform his cafe into a zero-waste eatery when he saw the South African city of Cape Town go dry in 2018. Some studies had also predicted that Bengaluru could be the next city to follow. "I realised that at my juice centre, we were using nearly 250ml of water to wash each glass. If I was selling 100 glasses of juice a day, it meant that I was flushing out 25 litres of water down the drain. I realised it was a criminal waste of water, especially when the whole world is facing a crisis. So I got thinking if we can do something better. Since I am an engineer, I realised if I do not engineer the process of saving something then there is no point in studying the course. I looked at the fruits and I saw that the smaller watermelons, when halved, could be used to serve the juice that was made from its pulp," he says. Using fruit shells as cups has not only helped save water but also reduced waste and minimised labour time for his staff. The used shells are then supplied to cattle owners as fodder. Today, Raja uses fruits like watermelons, musk melons, sun melons, oranges, guavas, bananas and several other fruits to serve the juices. "Now I have 22 different varieties of fruits and vegetables that I serve my juices in. I am the owner of India’s first juice bar to serve juices only in fruit shells. We don’t use glasses at all," says Raja, exuding pride. Raja does not see this model just as a service to the society but believes that waste is wealth which can be monetised. He is currently working to build a network of juice centres that can segregate the waste supply it to farms and cattle owners. "I see myself as a waste engineer because there is a lot to be monetised from waste. I hold workshops where we say you can make cash out of trash. I am planning to ask cattle owners to give me milk in exchange for the fodder as I have stopped using milk packets because it generates plastic waste. There is economy in waste" Raja concludes.

Bengaluru's first zero-waste cafe uses fruit shells as cups

In the 59th edition of his monthly radio address 'Mann ki Baat' on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined the issue of plastic waste flooding the water bodies and narrated an example of how a large amount of such waste was cleaned by a group of motivated scuba divers.

He also stated that a plastic-free India could be an example for the whole world.

"I was reading a story about a group of scuba divers in Vishakhapatnam, who were returning towards the seashore on Mangamaripeta beach when they encountered several plastic bottles and pouches in the water," he said.

He stated that after considering the situation as very serious, the group of divers started an initiative to clean out the garbage from the water bodies.

"In around two weeks, they took out nearly 4000 kg of plastic waste from the water," he said.

The Prime Minister further added that this small initiative was slowly becoming a large movement, which has already garnered the support of the local people and fishermen.

He also urged the citizens to take inspiration from the group of scuba divers and start getting rid of plastic waste from their surroundings.

"If we resolve to eliminate plastic waste from our own surroundings, a plastic-free India will be possible, that can set an example before the entire world," he added.

In the 59th edition of his monthly radio address 'Mann ki Baat' on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined the issue of plastic waste flooding the water bodies and narrated an example of how a large amount of such waste was cleaned by a group of motivated scuba divers.

In the 59th edition of his monthly radio address 'Mann ki Baat' on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined the issue of plastic waste flooding the water bodies and narrated an example of how a large amount of such waste was cleaned by a group of motivated scuba divers. He also stated that a plastic-free India could be an example for the whole world. "I was reading a story about a group of scuba divers in Vishakhapatnam, who were returning towards the seashore on Mangamaripeta beach when they encountered several plastic bottles and pouches in the water," he said. He stated that after considering the situation as very serious, the group of divers started an initiative to clean out the garbage from the water bodies. "In around two weeks, they took out nearly 4000 kg of plastic waste from the water," he said. The Prime Minister further added that this small initiative was slowly becoming a large movement, which has already garnered the support of the local people and fishermen. He also urged the citizens to take inspiration from the group of scuba divers and start getting rid of plastic waste from their surroundings. "If we resolve to eliminate plastic waste from our own surroundings, a plastic-free India will be possible, that can set an example before the entire world," he added.

PM Modi lauds scuba divers for cleaning plastic waste from deep sea

Tens of thousands of pieces of plastic littering the planet come from just a handful of multinational corporations, an environmental pressure group said Wednesday.

Coca Cola, Nestle and PepsiCo were named by Break Free from Plastics, a global coalition of individuals and environmental organisations, who warned the companies largely avoid cleanup responsibility.

The coalition's volunteers collected nearly half a million pieces of plastic waste during a coordinated "World Clean Up Day" in 51 countries a month ago, of which 43 per cent were marked with a clear consumer brand.

For the second year in a row, it said Coca-Cola came out on top, with 11,732 pieces of plastic collected from 37 countries across four continents this year, more than the next three top global polluters combined.

"Many of them have made commitments that they claim will make their products more sustainable, but largely protect the outdated throwaway business model that got us into this mess in the first place," said the report, released in Manila.

China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Sri Lanka dump the most plastic into the oceans, but "the real drivers of much of this plastic pollution in Asia are actually multinational corporations headquartered in Europe and the United States", it said.

Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestle, responsible for the most pieces of plastic collected,&nbsp;did not immediately respond to AFP requests for comment.

Others in the top ten polluters include Mondelez International, Unilever, Mars, P&amp;G, Colgate-Palmolive, Philip Morris, and Perfetti Van Mille, the report added.

While global consumer brands now acknowledge their role in perpetuating the crisis, the report said they "have been equally aggressive in promoting false solutions to address the problem".

Promoting recycling is their way of shifting the responsibility to consumers, it said.

Just nine per cent of all plastic produced since the 1950s has actually been recycled, the report said.

The report deems single-serve multilayered sachets, common in Southeast Asia and aimed at low-income families that cannot afford bigger volumes of consumer products, as "the most damaging type of plastic packaging".

Coca-Cola's promotion of a single-use plastic bottle using plastic collected from the oceans, as well as PepsiCo's efforts to promote recycling, "do not get to the heart of the problem and all but guarantee the plastic pollution crisis will grow worse".

Nestle sells over a billion products a day in single-use packaging "but has no clear plans for reducing the total amount" it puts into the world", the report alleged.

"As companies continue to profit by pumping out excessive single-use plastic, communities all over the world are being forced to shoulder the burden," it said, calling the situation "unacceptable".

The report said companies should veer away from promoting "false solutions", such as recycling and 'bioplastic', and instead transition from a throwaway economy.

All the companies named have made public commitments to reduce plastic waste and increase recycling.

Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have pledged to make their packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025. The beverage giants have also pulled out of a US lobbying organisation that represents the plastics industry.

Similarly, Nestle says it wants to make 100 per cent of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025 and to increase the proportion of recycled material in its plastic bottles to a third.

Break Free from Plastics counts 6,118 individuals and 1,475 organisations around the world as its members, including Greenpeace.

Tens of thousands of pieces of plastic littering the planet come from just a handful of multinational corporations, an environmental pressure group said Wednesday.

Tens of thousands of pieces of plastic littering the planet come from just a handful of multinational corporations, an environmental pressure group said Wednesday. Coca Cola, Nestle and PepsiCo were named by Break Free from Plastics, a global coalition of individuals and environmental organisations, who warned the companies largely avoid cleanup responsibility. The coalition's volunteers collected nearly half a million pieces of plastic waste during a coordinated "World Clean Up Day" in 51 countries a month ago, of which 43 per cent were marked with a clear consumer brand. For the second year in a row, it said Coca-Cola came out on top, with 11,732 pieces of plastic collected from 37 countries across four continents this year, more than the next three top global polluters combined. "Many of them have made commitments that they claim will make their products more sustainable, but largely protect the outdated throwaway business model that got us into this mess in the first place," said the report, released in Manila. China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Sri Lanka dump the most plastic into the oceans, but "the real drivers of much of this plastic pollution in Asia are actually multinational corporations headquartered in Europe and the United States", it said. Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestle, responsible for the most pieces of plastic collected, did not immediately respond to AFP requests for comment. Others in the top ten polluters include Mondelez International, Unilever, Mars, P&G, Colgate-Palmolive, Philip Morris, and Perfetti Van Mille, the report added. While global consumer brands now acknowledge their role in perpetuating the crisis, the report said they "have been equally aggressive in promoting false solutions to address the problem". Promoting recycling is their way of shifting the responsibility to consumers, it said. Just nine per cent of all plastic produced since the 1950s has actually been recycled, the report said. The report deems single-serve multilayered sachets, common in Southeast Asia and aimed at low-income families that cannot afford bigger volumes of consumer products, as "the most damaging type of plastic packaging". Coca-Cola's promotion of a single-use plastic bottle using plastic collected from the oceans, as well as PepsiCo's efforts to promote recycling, "do not get to the heart of the problem and all but guarantee the plastic pollution crisis will grow worse". Nestle sells over a billion products a day in single-use packaging "but has no clear plans for reducing the total amount" it puts into the world", the report alleged. "As companies continue to profit by pumping out excessive single-use plastic, communities all over the world are being forced to shoulder the burden," it said, calling the situation "unacceptable". The report said companies should veer away from promoting "false solutions", such as recycling and 'bioplastic', and instead transition from a throwaway economy. All the companies named have made public commitments to reduce plastic waste and increase recycling. Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have pledged to make their packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025. The beverage giants have also pulled out of a US lobbying organisation that represents the plastics industry. Similarly, Nestle says it wants to make 100 per cent of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025 and to increase the proportion of recycled material in its plastic bottles to a third. Break Free from Plastics counts 6,118 individuals and 1,475 organisations around the world as its members, including Greenpeace.

Coca Cola, Nestle among big firms to top worst plastic litter list: Report

Traders, shopkeepers, and others in India have started looking for an alternative to plastic amid the anticipation of a blanket ban on single-use plastic across the country.

Traders, shopkeepers look for alternative as India begins war on plastic

One person's trash can be another person's meal for some villagers in the Philippines with a rice-for-plastics programme launched to help the environment and feed the public. Since June, officials from Bayanan village on the outskirts of Manila started exchanging a kilogram of rice for every two kilos of plastic waste they can accumulate. The waste collected are then given to the national government for proper disposal or recycling.

A kilo of rice for plastic waste feeds hungry villagers in the Philippines

Watch to know how Ecuador is tackling plastic pollution, waste.

WION Dispatch: Recycle plastic bottles, earn money

In a bid to eliminate single-use plastic in the country, Indian Railways on Wednesday directed all units to enforce a ban on single-use plastic, with less than 50-micron thickness, from October 2 onwards in its premises and trains.

The decision comes a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech, urged people to shun single-use plastic from October 2, on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Directing the Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to implement the return of plastic drinking water bottles as a part of Extended Producer Responsibility, the Ministry of Railways also urged the corporation to set up plastic bottle crushing machines in major railway stations expeditiously.

The Indian Railways, in a circular, said the emphasis is on making necessary arrangements to minimize the generation of plastic waste and its eco-friendly disposal.

It also urged all vendors and railway staffs across Indian Railways to use reusable bags to reduce plastic footprint.

"Strict enforcement of these instructions is to be from October 2, 2019, to give enough time to all concerned to prepare for "Plastic Free Railway." Ministry of Railways has also instructed its Railway units that a pledge can be administered on October 2 to cut the use of plastics," read the circular.

"Information, Education and Communication (IEC) measures are to be adapted to create awareness among railway users," it added.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

In a bid to eliminate single-use plastic in the country, Indian Railways on Wednesday directed all units to enforce a ban on single-use plastic, with less than 50-micron thickness, from October 2 onwards in its premises and trains.

In a bid to eliminate single-use plastic in the country, Indian Railways on Wednesday directed all units to enforce a ban on single-use plastic, with less than 50-micron thickness, from October 2 onwards in its premises and trains. The decision comes a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech, urged people to shun single-use plastic from October 2, on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Directing the Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to implement the return of plastic drinking water bottles as a part of Extended Producer Responsibility, the Ministry of Railways also urged the corporation to set up plastic bottle crushing machines in major railway stations expeditiously. The Indian Railways, in a circular, said the emphasis is on making necessary arrangements to minimize the generation of plastic waste and its eco-friendly disposal. It also urged all vendors and railway staffs across Indian Railways to use reusable bags to reduce plastic footprint. "Strict enforcement of these instructions is to be from October 2, 2019, to give enough time to all concerned to prepare for "Plastic Free Railway." Ministry of Railways has also instructed its Railway units that a pledge can be administered on October 2 to cut the use of plastics," read the circular. "Information, Education and Communication (IEC) measures are to be adapted to create awareness among railway users," it added.

Indian Railways to enforce ban on single-use plastic from October 2

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-to-send-210-tonnes-of-waste-back-to-australia-234274">Indonesia has shipped tonnes of Australian garbage </a>out of the country, an official said Tuesday, as Southeast Asian nations push back against serving as dumping grounds for foreign trash.

Eight containers of trash, weighing some 210 tonnes left Indonesia's second-biggest city &nbsp;on Monday aboard a cargo ship bound for Singapore, the local customs agency said.

The move comes less than a week after Australia pledged to stop exporting recyclable waste amid<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/could-mexico-cactus-solve-worlds-plastics-problem-241852"> global concerns about plastic polluting</a> the oceans and increasing pushback from Asian nations against accepting trash.

Last month, Indonesia said it would return the Australian rubbish after authorities found hazardous material and household trash, including used diapers and electronic waste, in containers meant to hold the only waste paper.

"Six containers contaminated with (hazardous) waste and two containers mixed with household rubbish" left Indonesia on Monday, said Alvina Christine Zebua, a spokeswoman for the East Java customs agency.

She could not confirm when the containers might arrive back in Australia.

Last month Indonesia returned seven shipping containers of illegally imported waste to France and Hong Kong that were seized in Batam Island near Singapore.

Those containers were loaded with a combination of garbage, plastic waste and hazardous materials in violation of import rules.

Batam authorities were also preparing to return another 42 containers of waste, including shipments from the United States, Australia and Germany.

China used to receive the bulk of scrap plastic from around the world but closed its doors to foreign refuse last year to clean up its environment.&nbsp;

Huge quantities of waste have since been redirected to Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Indonesia and to a lesser degree the Philippines.&nbsp;

Around 300 million tonnes of plastic are produced every year, according to the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), with much of it ending up in landfills or polluting the seas, in what has become a growing international crisis.&nbsp;

A particular environmental concern is microplastics, tiny pieces of degraded waste that absorb harmful chemicals and accumulate inside fish, birds and other animals.

Indonesia has shipped tonnes of Australian garbage out of the country, an official said Tuesday, as Southeast Asian nations push back against serving as dumping grounds for foreign trash.

Indonesia has shipped tonnes of Australian garbage out of the country, an official said Tuesday, as Southeast Asian nations push back against serving as dumping grounds for foreign trash. Eight containers of trash, weighing some 210 tonnes left Indonesia's second-biggest city on Monday aboard a cargo ship bound for Singapore, the local customs agency said. The move comes less than a week after Australia pledged to stop exporting recyclable waste amid global concerns about plastic polluting the oceans and increasing pushback from Asian nations against accepting trash. Last month, Indonesia said it would return the Australian rubbish after authorities found hazardous material and household trash, including used diapers and electronic waste, in containers meant to hold the only waste paper. "Six containers contaminated with (hazardous) waste and two containers mixed with household rubbish" left Indonesia on Monday, said Alvina Christine Zebua, a spokeswoman for the East Java customs agency. She could not confirm when the containers might arrive back in Australia. Last month Indonesia returned seven shipping containers of illegally imported waste to France and Hong Kong that were seized in Batam Island near Singapore. Those containers were loaded with a combination of garbage, plastic waste and hazardous materials in violation of import rules. Batam authorities were also preparing to return another 42 containers of waste, including shipments from the United States, Australia and Germany. China used to receive the bulk of scrap plastic from around the world but closed its doors to foreign refuse last year to clean up its environment. Huge quantities of waste have since been redirected to Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Indonesia and to a lesser degree the Philippines. Around 300 million tonnes of plastic are produced every year, according to the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), with much of it ending up in landfills or polluting the seas, in what has become a growing international crisis. A particular environmental concern is microplastics, tiny pieces of degraded waste that absorb harmful chemicals and accumulate inside fish, birds and other animals.

Indonesia ships back tonnes of Australian waste

Plastic, plastic everywhere but not for African recyclers

Cambodia fined a company more than $250,000 for shipping 1,600 tonnes of plastic waste from the US and Canada, an official said Tuesday, as Southeast Asian countries hit back against an influx of rubbish.&nbsp;

China's decision to ban foreign plastic waste imports last year threw global recycling into chaos as shipping containers filled with trash were rerouted to ports in the region.

The discovery of 83 plastic-filled containers at Cambodia's Sihanoukville port this month fueled outrage among officials, who said the country was not a rubbish bin.&nbsp;

It gave the firm responsible - Chungyuen Plastic Manufacture - until August 24 to send the shipment back to the US and Canada and fined it $254,000.&nbsp;

The company "will face further action through the courts" if it does not comply with the order and pay, Kun Nhim, director-general of Cambodia's customs department, told reporters.&nbsp;

Seventy of the containers are from the US while the remainder came from Canada, he said.&nbsp;

He did not provide details on how they ended up in Sihanoukville.

"It could be that they shipped it to Cambodia temporarily when they could not find a country to accept the waste," he added.&nbsp;

Cambodia is the latest country in Southeast Asia to push back against a growing rubbish crisis. &nbsp;

Indonesia announced earlier this month it was sending back dozens of containers full of waste to France and other developed nations while neighbouring Malaysia said in May it was shipping 450 tonnes of imported plastic waste back to its source.&nbsp;

Around 300 million tonnes of plastic are produced every year, and much of it ends up in landfills or polluting the seas.

Cambodia fined a company more than $250,000 for shipping 1,600 tonnes of plastic waste from the US and Canada, an official said Tuesday, as Southeast Asian countries hit back against an influx of rubbish.

Cambodia fined a company more than $250,000 for shipping 1,600 tonnes of plastic waste from the US and Canada, an official said Tuesday, as Southeast Asian countries hit back against an influx of rubbish. China's decision to ban foreign plastic waste imports last year threw global recycling into chaos as shipping containers filled with trash were rerouted to ports in the region. The discovery of 83 plastic-filled containers at Cambodia's Sihanoukville port this month fueled outrage among officials, who said the country was not a rubbish bin. It gave the firm responsible - Chungyuen Plastic Manufacture - until August 24 to send the shipment back to the US and Canada and fined it $254,000. The company "will face further action through the courts" if it does not comply with the order and pay, Kun Nhim, director-general of Cambodia's customs department, told reporters. Seventy of the containers are from the US while the remainder came from Canada, he said. He did not provide details on how they ended up in Sihanoukville. "It could be that they shipped it to Cambodia temporarily when they could not find a country to accept the waste," he added. Cambodia is the latest country in Southeast Asia to push back against a growing rubbish crisis. Indonesia announced earlier this month it was sending back dozens of containers full of waste to France and other developed nations while neighbouring Malaysia said in May it was shipping 450 tonnes of imported plastic waste back to its source. Around 300 million tonnes of plastic are produced every year, and much of it ends up in landfills or polluting the seas.

Company fined $254,000 for shipping plastic waste to Cambodia

Watch this report to know how the single-use plastic is the real villain.

Single-use plastic: The real villain?

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