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 Plastic waste
The world's annual consumption of plastic
materials has increased from around 5 million tonnes
in the 1950s to nearly 100 million tonnes today.
The amount of plastic
waste generated annually in the UK is estimated
to be nearly 3 million tonnes. An
estimated 56% of all plastics waste is used packaging,
three-quarters of which are collected from households.
It is estimated that only 7% of total plastic waste
arisings are currently being recycled.
Plastics
consumption is growing about 4% every year in western
Europe.
The disposal of plastics products
also contributes significantly to their environmental
impact. Because most plastics are non-degradable, they
take a long time to break down, often several hundred
years, when they are landfilled. With more and more
plastics products, particularly plastics packaging,
being disposed of soon after their purchase, the landfill
space required by plastics waste is a growing concern.
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Plastic waste, such as plastic bags,
often becomes litter. For example, 60% of litter found
on beaches in 1999 was plastic.
Currently 80% of post-consumer plastic
waste is sent to landfill, 8% is incinerated and only
7% is recycled.
Every year, an estimated 17½ billion
plastic bags are given away by supermarkets. This
is equivalent to over 280 bags for every person in
the UK.
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 Bioplast Ltd
84 Southam Road
Hall Green
Birmingham
B28 0AG |
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 LINKS Envirowise
Envirowise offers UK businesses free, independent, confidential advice and support
on practical ways to increase profits, minimise waste and reduce environmental
impact.
Click here.
Waste
Watch
Waste Watch is the leading national organisation promoting and encouraging action
on the 3Rs - waste reduction, reuse and recycling.
Click here.
Department for Environment
Food and Rural Affairs
DEFRA work for the essentials of life - food, air, land,
water, people, animals and plants. Their remit is the pursuit of sustainable
development - weaving together economic, social and environmental concerns.
Click Here .
Environment
Agency
This is “the leading public body for
protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales.
They make sure that air, land and water are looked after
by everyone in today's society, so that tomorrow's generations
inherit a cleaner, healthier world." Click
here. |
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