Norway could lead the fight against plastic pollution

Norway’s coastline is littered with plastics from around the world. Plastic pollution is a global problem, but Norway can be a role model in putting an end to it. Plastic items from around the world are continuously washing ashore on Norwegian coastlines. This reflects a much larger systemic issue facing the nations of the world.

Scientists have long reported the consequences of plastic pollution and the urgent need for intervention, but global plastic production and consumption continue to rise. This underscores the importance of Norway’s advocacy for a global agreement that guarantees stopping the flow of plastics into the environment.

According to the study published in Environmental Science & Technology, around 758 metric kilotons (kt) of plastics enter the Norwegian market every year, while 632 metric kt is discarded as waste. Almost the half of this waste is incinerated, and only 2.4% ends up in the environment. The study shows that the majority of macroplastics, items bigger than 5mm, mainly originate from consumer packaging, such as bottles and bags. Plastic packaging items are also among the most commonly found along Norwegian coastlines.

Source: Phys.org