EcoWaste calls for stronger treaty vs plastic

MANILA, Philippines — Environmental watchdog EcoWaste Coalition yesterday joined the global call for a stronger and binding treaty that would address the “threats and injustice” caused by plastic waste.

“We appeal to the UNEA (United Nations Environmental Assembly) delegates to decide in favor of a stronger, legally binding global instrument that will prevent, reduce and remediate harms from the whole life cycle of plastic,” EcoWaste’s national coordinator Aileen Lucero said.

The group made the appeal as world leaders are set to convene today until March 2 in Nairobi, Kenya for the UNEA.

Lucero pointed out that plastic pollution is “not just a simple problem, but a complex environmental, health, justice and climate issue,” adding that 99 percent of plastic are derived from fossil fuels.

The EcoWaste said it is one with other environmental organizations around the world in pushing for a legally binding treaty that would address the problems of plastic throughout its “full life cycle” – from extraction, manufacturing, distribution, consumption, waste management and disposal.

Lucero pointed out that around 12 million metric tons of plastic are thrown in oceans each year.

The group held a protest in Elliptical Road, Quezon City yesterday holding wooden placards that sum up their plea for action: “A strong plastic treaty to stop toxic pollution and environmental injustice.”

The EcoWaste said the hazardous substances used in making plastics such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers, phthalate plasticizers, grease, polyfluoroalkyl substances, ultraviolet stabilizers as well as heavy metals such as cadmium and lead could leach into food, soil and water.

“Plastics containing toxic chemicals that pose hazards to human health and the environment should not be manufactured and recycled. Like in the case of single-use plastics or SUPs, the world needs to act decisively to phase them out as recycling will not solve this toxic problem,” the group said.

The EcoWaste pointed out that based on studies, some 400 million tons of plastic are manufactured every year, with only less than 10 percent recycled and the rest ending up being incinerated, disposed in landfills or dumped in rivers and oceans.