New Strategy Released to Reduce Plastic Waste Entering Great Lakes Waters

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): A new, five-year strategy and action plan has been created to reduce plastics from polluting the Great Lakes. In a joint Canada-U.S. effort, the Council of the Great Lakes Region has laid out a strategy to reduce plastic packaging waste and throw-away litter from entering critical waters in the basin including Lake Ontario and Bay of Quinte. Working with corporate partners and stakeholders in the plastics value chain, the council said its  “aim is to forge a future without plastic packaging waste and litter in the bi-national Great Lakes region, the engine of the North American economy and guardian of the largest freshwater system in the world.”

Mark Fisher, president and CEO of the Council of the Great Lakes Region, said: “Plastic is a versatile material that is used widely in our industries and homes as consumers, but it should never become waste in our economy or litter in our environment. “Through the Circular Great Lakes initiative, we are convening business, government, academic, and NGO leaders to drive and deliver the systems change needed to close the loop and accelerate the transition to a circular economy for plastics in this critical region to the United States and Canada.”

According to the council, more than 80 per cent, or 12.8 million tons, of recyclable plastic packaging materials are being landfilled every year, effectively throwing out $2.1 billion worth of reusable plastics.“Even worse, plastic material is polluting the Great Lakes and our regional environment in the form of litter.”

Courtesy: www.wasteadvantage.com