Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian

Plastic Ban

latest news & developments
The first round of plastic treaty negotiations saw positive outcomes but oil producing countries, at the behest of big oil and petrochemical companies, could dominate the treaty discussions. (Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
CLIMATE CHANGE

Plastics industry needs policing

We must continue to hold manufacturers to account and push for better waste management

  • Froilan Grate
  • Lili Fuhr
4 min read
Only 9% of plastics is recycled once and less than 1% is recycled twice
AGENCY

A handful of multinational corporations is responsible for the world’s plastic waste

Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestle were responsible for the most pieces of plastic collected according to an environmental pressure group

  • Agency
4 min read
The “hard-fought” negotiations to develop a landmark United Nations treaty to end plastic pollution closed on Friday without agreement and have been extended again
LITTERING

Why can’t all plastic waste be recycled?

The UK produced 11m tonnes of plastic waste in 2017, and recycled around two thirds of it. Or so it seemed

  • Staff Reporter
4 min read
In Australia, Europe and the US, many of those collecting plastic and other recyclables were left scrambling to find new places to send it. (Sebastian Kennerknecht/AFP)
OCEAN

Everyday plastics emit greenhouse gases, study reveals

‘Plastic represents a source of climate-relevant trace gases that is expected to increase as more plastic is produced”

  • Agency
1 min read
When the Trump administration formally reinstated the gag rule
AGENCY

Last straw for McDonald’s, Burger King and others in Mumbai plastic ban

The new ban, in force since Saturday, prohibits the use of disposable plastic items such as bags, cutlery, cups and bottles under a certain size

  • Agency
2 min read