G7 TO BACK PLASTIC TREATY?

Woman picking up plastic waste on a beach

Leaders of the G7 are being urged to show their support for a global treaty to tackle plastic waste.

Pointing out that less than 10% of all the plastic produced has ever been recycled, an open letter signed by businesses and campaign groups notes that more than 70 governments have already expressed their support for such a treaty.

Reported in The Guardian, the letter also highlights the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with discarded PPE adding to the plastic waste crisis.

“In just two months, 1bn items of PPE were handed out in the UK alone. Globally, 3m face masks are thrown away every minute – amounting to 129bn every month – mostly disposable, mostly plastic,” it says.