Environment Energy Mining Watch SEE|News|Montenegro leads in waste amount in the Mediterranean Sea

Montenegro leads in waste amount in the Mediterranean Sea

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Every year, 229,000 tons of plastic waste ends up in the Mediterranean Sea, but if significant measures are not taken – that number could double by 2040.

About 229,000 tons of plastic waste ends up in the Mediterranean each year, which is more than 500 shipping containers a day, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

At the very top of the list in terms of the total amount of plastic waste that ends up in the sea are Egypt with 74,000 tons per year, Italy with 34,000 tons per year and Turkey with 24,000 tons per year.

However, in terms of the amount of waste disposed per capita, Montenegro leads with eight kilograms per person per year, and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Northern Macedonia with three kilograms per person per year, according to the report “Plastic Sea: Mediterranean”. It warns that plastic pollution could cause long-term damage to terrestrial and marine ecosystems and biodiversity, especially marine animals that could become entangled or swallow plastic waste and die of exhaustion or starvation, said IUCN Marine and Polar Program Director Mina Eps .

“Governments, the private sector, research institutions, industry and consumers must redesign processes and supply chains together, invest in innovation and adopt sustainable consumption patterns and improved waste management practices to close the plastic tap,” said the director of the IUCN Center for Mediterranean Cooperation. Antonio Troy.

According to the report, improving waste management, starting with waste collection, has the greatest potential to reduce plastic leakage over time, and a global ban on plastic bags alone would reduce it by about 50,000 tons per year.

Source: cdm.me

 

 

 

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