ENVIRONMENT ISSUES
Plastic waste
ENVIRONMENT ISSUES
Plastic waste
PLASTIC PRODUCTION
Plastic production is still growing every year *
Asia was the largest producer of plastic in 2016 (50% of global production), followed by Europe (19%) and North America (18%).
Plastic demand in Europe in 2016 reached 49.9 million tons. 7 countries account for almost 80% of the European demand: Germany (24.5%), Italy (14.2%), France (9.6%), Spain, UK, Poland and Benelux.
The packaging sector accounts for almost 40% of the European total plastic demand.
* according to PlasticsEurope, Plastics-The Facts 2017
PLASTIC WASTE TREATMENT
27% of waste plastics still went to landfill in 2016 in Europe *
Landfill is, however, a declining option, the amount of waste plastic landfilled decreased in fact by 43 % in 10 years (2006-2016).
Alternative solutions to landfill are recycling and energy recovery. When plastic materials are non-recyclable the best option is energy recovery.
Incineration, however, has a harmful impact in term of CO2 emissions. Alternative paths for energy recovery must be explored.
* says PlasticsEurope, Plastics-The Facts 2017
01.
70% of waste in the ocean is made of plastic packaging.
02.
Plastic environment littering damages wild and human life and actions must be put in place to avoid waste leaking from the official stream.
03.
Attributing economic value to plastic waste, as an input for new production or conversion processes, constitutes an incentive to properly dispose it and favour environment protection.
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