New Study: Plastic Waste to Surpass Marine Life by 2050

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): One of the main causes of pollution in the environment nowadays is plastic waste.

An estimated 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced annually worldwide. Roughly half of this comes from single-use plastic products including bottles, bags, and packaging. Over 8 million metric tonnes of plastic enter the ocean annually, posing serious risks to marine ecosystems, according to UN estimates.

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With 9.3 million tonnes of plastic trash released annually, India is the world's biggest plastic polluter. The nation is responsible for around one-fifth of the global emissions of plastics.

Due to the nation's inadequate waste collection systems, plastic waste is frequently burned, releasing dangerous pollutants into the environment. This is recognized as one of the primary contributors to pollution in the environment. It also presents significant health hazards. Furthermore, marine life is threatened by plastic pollution. More than 800 marine species are impacted by plastic pollution, according to a recent U.N. report.

The nation has implemented a number of policies to combat the pollution caused by plastics. The prohibition on single-use plastic products is a step in the right direction. The prohibition's enforcement is still quite difficult, though.