Where does plastic waste go?

The global plastic waste trade has also received more attention in recent years, as the debate about plastic pollution is escalating around the world. So what is the plastic waste trade and why is it being discussed?

Because plastics can remain undissolved in nature for long periods of time, plastic waste harms the environment around the world. It can cause death by accumulating in the stomachs of some animals or circulating in their bodies. In addition, it breaks down into small particles called microplastics and passes into water, animals and the human body from these two sources. It is not yet known how microplastics may affect human health.

In order to prevent this, the use of recycled plastic products has been increased instead of single-use plastic products.

Instead of being thrown away, these products are thrown into recycling bins and turned into reusable plastics in recycling facilities.

According to a study published in the journal Science Advances in 2017, 55 percent of plastics produced in 2015 were thrown away, 25.5 percent was incinerated at power generation facilities, and 19.5 percent was recycled.

However, some developed countries, which are among the countries that consume the most plastic in the world, do not have enough recycling facilities to provide this. Some governments also do not want to set up incinerators in their own country or region because of the air pollution of incinerators.

According to Eurostat data, 78.5 percent of plastic packages in the European Union (EU) are separated and collected (recovered), but only 41.5 percent of them are recycled within the EU borders.

Countries that import the most plastic waste in the world

Plastic waste is collected and disposed of in separate recycling bins in some countries. However, some countries collect paper, glass, metal and plastics in the same bins and send them mixed to other countries for recycling.

Sorting and recycling this mixed garbage is more difficult.

As the amount of garbage Turkey receives from abroad increases, this issue has started to come to the fore more frequently.

REFERENCE: https://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler-dunya-57142579

STUDENT'S NAME: Hamza Efe ( 8th Grade )