McDonalds produces 1 billion kg of packaging per year, equivalent to the weight of 100 Eiffel towers! Proposed EU regulations would force them to transition to refill and reuse systems. This article from the EU observer reveals how they have been leading campaigns against the legislation.
Investors in major FMCGs want the companies to reduce their plastic waste
A Dutch coalition, responsible for $10tn of assets, is calling for FMCGs such as Amazon, McDonalds and Unilever to reduce their single-use plastic in response to concerns about the environment and our health.
Shell’s new plastic plant facing a federal lawsuit
A lawsuit has been filed against Shell, whose new plastic plant has allegedly been repeatedly releasing dangerous levels of airborne emissions, harming the health of local residents.
Local communities are powerful players in the war on plastic
In an article in the South China Morning Post, Trash Hero Programme Director Seema Prabhu discusses how cleanups cannot solve plastic pollution, but are an important tool for educating local communities and holding corporate polluters accountable through collected data.
Scientists and NGOs to be “excluded” at Plastics Treaty talks
The UN has been accused of limiting access to the negotiations of the Global Plastics Treaty in Paris, in a last minute change that will allow only 1 out of 5 delegates to take part at any time. This means many voices from independent science and developing countries will not be heard by lawmakers.
What do you think about these stories? Let us know in the comments!
We currently produce an enormous quantity of waste, especially plastic. This overproduction, and the resulting mismanagement, directly increase greenhouse gas emissions and the effects of climate change.
A recent Global Alliance Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) report reveals the ‘clearest and most comprehensive evidence yet’ that a zero waste approach would totally transform this situation by reducing emissions and mitigating the effects of extreme weather.
In this blog post, we break down some of their key findings.
Separate food waste to reduce methane emissions
Composting is a game-changer when it comes to reducing methane emissions and is better for the planet than recycling. When organic waste, like food scraps, decomposes in landfills, it produces a high amount of methane, which is released into the atmosphere. But by separating it, we can ensure it is composted to create nutrient-rich soil. According to the GAIA report, composting our organic waste will reduce methane emissions from landfills by a whopping 62%. And when we add mechanical recovery and biological treatment of residuals, we can reduce these methane emissions by an average of 95%!
Reuse and refill to reduce emissions from fossil fuels
Plastic, over 95% of which is derived from fossil fuel, leaves a massive carbon footprint – creating emissions at every stage of its lifecycle. A staggering 44% of plastic is used for packaging or disposable items. By promoting refill and reuse systems and embracing a zero-waste approach, companies and local governments can easily reduce non-essential plastic use.
This will drastically decrease our fossil fuel-related emissions, as well as our dependency on oil and gas.
Stop burning trash to cut greenhouse emissions
Incineration in various guises, such as ‘plastic-to-fuel’, is often promoted as a “solution” for plastic waste. The GAIA report shows that this is a very expensive, energy-intensive and inefficient process. It also creates a ‘lock-in effect’ that guarantees climate emissions for years to come. A study in Seoul, a city that relies significantly on incineration, found that the emissions from incineration were five times higher than from landfills. Although limited studies have been done on the impact of incineration, it is widely accepted that burning plastic has severe climate, environmental, and health impacts.
Ban plastics to build resilience against extreme weather events
Flooding is becoming more frequent due to climate change, and studies have found that mismanaged waste exacerbates the situation. Plastic waste clogs drainage systems, so much so that Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda all banned plastic bags following severe flooding. Discarded waste is a breeding ground for insects known to spread diseases.
In Manila, for example, the dumping of solid waste was identified as a significant factor in the high levels of infections during floods and their aftermath. A zero-waste approach would eliminate this waste, meaning we can mitigate the impact of severe weather events.
Use compost to improve soil health
The final benefit of zero waste that we will discuss here – as there are many more – is how composting can improve soil health. Our planet’s soil, a crucial element of ecosystems, is facing significant impacts from climate change. Soil moisture decreases due to higher air and soil temperatures, leading to aridity and desertification. This, coupled with erosion, could reduce food production by 25% by 2050. Compost provides an easy solution by improving soil organic matter, increasing its capacity for nutrient storage, and improving water absorption, strengthening soil resilience to climate change. Composting also reduces pollution, landfill waste, soil erosion, and surface and groundwater contamination, making it a valuable tool for adapting to climate change.
Plastic food packaging found in brain 2 hours after ingestion
A concerning new study on mice shows that tiny particles of polystyrene – a material frequently used to package takeaway food worldwide – were found in their brain just hours after consuming it.
The Pacific Garbage Patch is creating a new ecosystem
Scientists have found 37 new species living in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is now like a new ecosystem. These species may become invasive, and the plastic they’re living on is getting into the food we eat.
Massive fire at recycling plant leaves lingering toxic smoke
Lingering smoke from the toxic fire at a plastic recycling plant in Indiana is causing health concerns for those who live close by, even after the fire has been put out. This video discuss the health concerns the residents are left with.
Exxon’s new recycling plant puts drinking water at risk
Experts have warned that Exxon’s newest chemical recycling plant could pollute a drinking water source while enabling oil companies to continue producing plastic pollution
Get your petroleum off my body!
Did you realise that oil is involved in nearly every stage of manufacturing clothes? This article reveals how petroleum is a huge part of the fashion industry – from the materials to the dye.
The school where you can pay your fees in plastic bottles
Meet the Nigerians who are helping to increase access to education while tackling the issue of local plastic waste
What do you think about these stories? Let us know in the comments!
Have you ever noticed what brand of coffee the characters on your favourite TV show drink? Or what type of phone the heroes in the latest blockbuster movie are using? This kind of product placement has been used for years by companies to subtly advertise their products.
What’s shown in film and TV can also affect social norms. The changing portrayal of interracial or gay relationships over time has both reflected and shaped our attitudes. It’s well known that the media is an important influencer of culture and opinions.
So what if this thinking was applied to plastic pollution and the way individuals can do their part?
Despite the urgency of the plastic pollution crisis, the media is lagging behind when it comes to depicting reuse and refill instead of single-use. It is failing to show how we can make small but effective changes in our daily life. Many of our favourite characters continue to use single-use plastics, such as cups and plastic bags, without regard for their environmental impact. The media has an important role to play in creating awareness about the problem and its solutions.
Eleanor and Michael from The Good Place use single-use takeaway coffee cups
This is where the Begley-Cohen Test for Film and TV comes in. Created by the Plastic Pollution Coalition, the test is similar to the Bechdel test, which evaluates the portrayal of women in the media. The Begley-Cohen Test encourages viewers to critically evaluate the use of single-use plastic in the media and raises awareness about the media’s role in how society views plastic use.
To pass the test, the media must meet the following criteria
No single-use plastics appear on the screen
If single-use plastic does appear on the screen, it is portrayed or discussed as problematic
Some media automatically passes the test as it is set in a timeline where plastic does not exist. However, there are examples of TV shows that pass the test much more actively – such as The Last of Us where one of the main characters is given a reusable menstrual cup.
Can you think of any others?
Undoubtedly, we are influenced by what we see on the screen, and the test encourages us to evaluate that. When we see characters who avoid single-use plastic and take steps to reduce their use of plastic, we feel inspired to do the same. Furthermore, having reusable and refillable items used by popular characters normalises this behaviour across society.
The test calls out the depiction of single-use plastic on screen and encourages people to be aware of the danger of characters perpetuating its use.
Janine from Abbot Elementary with her reusable coffee cup
The entertainment industry should instead be giving us positive examples of the kind of responsible behaviour we want to see in society.
The Begley-Cohen Test can be used to assess all forms of entertainment that we are exposed to, including social media. Have you noticed single-use plastic portrayed irresponsibly either on screen or in your feed? Does your favourite influencer use plastic? If you spot any instances, let people know. This can also create pressure for the media and influencers to change and be better role models.
In certain circles, plastic water bottles are now seen as very uncool – the Begley-Cohen Test could soon make that a reality everywhere.
New disease caused by plastic pollution found in birds
A new disease called ‘Plasticosis’ has been found in birds. Caused by plastic pollution, it seriously impacts their ability to digest food, and exposes them to infection and parasites. Watch the report from ABC news.
Women are more effected by plastic pollution
Are you aware of the hidden dangers in your period products and daily beauty routine? Vogue France explores why women are more affected by plastic pollution and how we can protect ourselves.
Your ‘recycled’ bottles might be made from virgin plastic
Lack of regulation is making it challenging to verify recycled content, and creating loopholes for companies to label items actually made from virgin plastic as “recycled”
What happened to The Ocean Cleanup?
The Ocean Cleanup raised millions of dollars and made big promises about cleaning up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. A new report asks if their projects are really working, or doing more harm than good?
Stopping single use plastic is not as hard as it seems
Stopping single-use plastic is possible! Joanna Nisenbaum in Canada runs a cafe that is 95% zero waste, and she says people are ready for reusables. A great, positive read!
Trash Hero Da Nang cleanups hit the headlines
Trash Hero Da Nang’s hard work running regular cleanups for over six months in Vietnam has been featured in a national newspaper, that praised their success in bringing together strangers to form a civic-minded community.
What do you think about these stories? Let us know in the comments!
What’s the easiest and most effective recycling in the world? Recycling that you can do yourself at home? The answer may surprise you: organics!
Separating and recycling organics – food and garden waste – is often overlooked when we talk about improving waste management but in truth it is the key to making a circular economy a reality.
Investment in recycling food will have a far bigger, wider and more immediate impact than any equivalent investment in recycling plastic. It needs fewer resources and is much less complicated. To go zero waste, start with food!
So why is recycling food waste, also known as composting, so important?
5 reasons why composting is the foundation of zero waste
It reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills
By weight, food makes up the biggest proportion of our household trash. By separating food and other organic waste and composting it, the amount of waste sent to landfill can be reduced by half or more – up to 70% in some Asian countries. That’s a huge reduction when we consider we are rapidly running out of space to contain our trash – and spending ever more public funds to deal with it.
It prevents greenhouse gas emissions
Food waste piled up in a landfill is starved of oxygen. This leads to anaerobic decomposition – a process that creates methane as a by-product. Methane is a greenhouse gas 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over its 20 year lifespan, and a major factor in driving climate change. Around 15% of methane produced globally comes directly from food rotting in landfills.
It makes landfills safer
All that methane can build up inside the landfill, and is very flammable. Spontaneous fires are common, especially in poorly managed sites. Burning trash produces dangerous toxins and can spread quickly, contributing to disasters such as the fatal collapse of a landfill in Indonesia in 2005.
Rotting food also releases water that starts to dissolve non-organic waste such as plastic or batteries. The resulting toxic black liquid, known as leachate, can leak into the soil and contaminate water sources. Ammonia and mercury in the leachate are responsible for the “dead zones” in rivers.
It makes other recycling easier
With food and other organics out of the picture, recycling non-organic materials becomes much easier! Dry, non-contaminated glass, metal and plastic can be sorted and recycled more effectively and also fetch a higher price in the market – an important incentive that boosts recycling rates.
It’s infinite and helps nourish the soil
Food waste is infinitely recyclable – something that cannot be said for plastic. Food that is composted can be returned to nourish the soil naturally (avoiding synthetic fertilisers) and grow more food. This cycle can be continued forever with almost no additional resources required. It seems incredibly wasteful – if not a little crazy – to spend money piling food up in a landfill, even without considering the other ill effects of doing this.
So how to start recycling your food waste?
If you live in the countryside, or have access to a garden, it’s easy: compost! We have a simple guide on how to do this on our kids’ website. Almost everything that grows can be composted, which makes food one of the easiest things to recycle – although there may be exceptions depending on the technique you choose.
If you live in a city or have limited outdoor space, it gets more tricky. But it is still doable, without smell or mess! The first option is to look for a community composting service or facility. Many municipalities offer food waste collection, or there are often private enterprises who offer a similar service, such as Urban Compost in Bali.
Other cities have adopted a community garden approach, where organic waste can be dropped off in a nearby green space and the compost bins are managed by a volunteer team. Brussels has a network of hundreds of these collective compost sites. There are also many resources available online if you are motivated to start your own project where you live.
The second option is to manage the waste yourself. This is more challenging, especially in a small apartment, but it is especially worthwhile if you have houseplants or a balcony garden that would benefit from the compost you make. Again, there are many resources online for how to compost in a small space. Two techniques we have used and had success with are bokashi and vermicomposting. Bokashi is the easier and more flexible option, but still needs a patch or container of soil in order to fully break down.
Conclusion
Food recycling – or composting – is the most effective form of recycling we have. Food represents the biggest part of our waste stream and, unlike plastic, it is not complicated to recycle, requires minimal resources and can be done an infinite number of times. It vastly reduces the size of landfills, avoids disastrous greenhouse emissions and environmental pollution, and improves the ability to recycle other materials. Get rotting today!
‘Recycled’ shoes tracked to an Indonesian flea market
A shocking report from Reuters exposes a “recycling scheme” from Dow Chemicals. It promised that old trainers would be turned into playgrounds and roads, but tracking devices found the waste had been exported to Indonesia instead.
Kenya is the dumping group for donated clothes
New mini-documentary ‘Trashion’ reveals that in Kenya, half of donated clothes sent from overseas are poor quality, plastic fast fashion. These unusable garments are piling up, causing an environmental crisis in the country.
Plastic to fuel’s cancer risk is 250,000 times accepted level
Plastic-to-fuel production increases the risk of getting cancer to 1 in 4 over a lifetime – 250,000 times above the accepted level. So why is the American Environmental Protection Agency allowing this to go ahead in poor communities?
Tinder for vegetables? New app will help to reduce food waste
A new app launched by Oddbox will help reduce food waste by providing recipes inspired by vegetable pairing in their Tinder-style app. Swipe left or right on the vegetables to get a match made in heaven for your dinner!
“Let’s Recycle Glass Bottles” challenged primary schools to collect 10 tonnes of glass in a local competition. The goal was smashed, and a total of 24 tonnes was collected, with the help of Trash Hero Mersing at their weekly cleanups. The success of the initiative has inspired a yearly event.
What do you think about these stories? Let us know in the comments!
Every week volunteers around the world put on their yellow t-shirts and commit to working towards a world free from plastic pollution – but what does it really mean to be a Trash Hero?
It means that we are a global movement. Trash Hero is currently active in 139 locations in 17 countries. To date, our movement has mobilised 466,578 volunteers, 120,673 of whom were under 16! We are passionate about including a wide range of people in our activities, and we celebrate this diversity as much as possible.
Being a Trash Hero also means taking regular action against plastic pollution. In 2022 alone, Trash Hero volunteers organised 3,296 cleanups – an average of 9 cleanups a day and 45 kgs per event! This brings our total number of cleanups since 2013 to an incredible 18,206, removing a total of 2,302,862 kgs of trash
We help people reduce single-use plastic through our refill and reuse programmes. To date, we have distributed 106,188 reusable water bottles through our partner network, which includes 673 points where people can refill their bottle for free. This has prevented an incredible 38,8 million single-use plastic bottles from being used and has reduced 2017.572 tonnes of CO2 emissions. We have also distributed 29,520 reusable Trash Hero bags, preventing the use of 10.8 million single-use plastic bags
Trash Hero is also committed to inspiring a new generation of activists! Our dedicated kids programme, which began in 2018, has helped 23,330 kids build sustainable habits. This is done through our story and activities book
As well as hands-on action within communities, Trash Hero is committed to collecting data that can be used to influence policy change on plastic. Trash Heroes have conducted 402 brand audits that have been included in reports holding corporate polluters responsible. These reports have been submitted to the UN negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty.
But it’s not just about the numbers. Being a Trash Hero means that we feel connected with your fellow volunteers, we are motivated to create change and we are thankful to everyone who supports and contributes to our movement.
And most of all, it means that we are family!
Thank you to all of our volunteers who have been part of the incredible impact that we have had. We can’t wait to see what 2023 brings!
We have been collecting data since December 2013; as of 31st December 2022 these are our numbers!
18,206 cleanups
139 active chapters in 17 countries
466,578 volunteers, including 120,673 under 16s
Responsibly collected and disposed of 2,302,862 kg of trash
As part of the Trash Hero Bottle program, 106,188 reusable bottles have been distributed, avoiding 38.8 million single-use plastic bottles and reducing 2,107 tonnes of CO2 emissions
As part of the Trash Hero Bag program, 29,520 reusable Trash Hero bags have been distributed, saving 10.8 million single-use plastic bags
Do you want to be part of a movement that is dedicated to creating change? Trash Hero cleanups are open for everyone to join – no cost, no sign-up, just show up! Find your nearest chapter here.
Last month England joined the growing list of countries that ban various single-use plastic items. Starting in October 2023, items such as plastic plates, cutlery, takeaway food containers and more will no longer be available in restaurants, retailers or the hospitality industry. The government is hoping it will drastically reduce the amount of single-use plastic used in England.
Single-use plastic bans are becoming increasingly popular as pressure mounts to reduce plastic pollution worldwide – and they are undoubtedly a step in the right direction. However, successful results are not guaranteed.
California’s plastic bag ban in 2014 led to an 85% drop in single-use plastic bag use in stores and a 60% reduction in plastic bags found polluting rivers. On the other hand, when Kenya introduced a similar ban in 2017, a black market for plastic bags developed. The country struggled to prevent these hard-to-recycle bags from plaguing the streets and waterways.
So why does some legislation result in a reduction in plastic pollution and others not? What can be done to ensure that a ban is having the desired effect?
What is being banned?
Many single-use plastic bans target low-hanging fruit such as straws, thin plastic bags or cutlery. In reality, these types of items make up just 2-3% of the single-use plastics produced, so the impact is naturally limited.
In July 2022, India introduced such a ban. It has mainly affected local market stalls and street food sellers. With low profit margins and no resources to switch to alternatives, these members of the community have struggled to adhere to the new regulations. The ban in India has, so far, not produced the desired effect.
Critics have suggested that the ban should instead have targeted the far greater amounts of plastic packaging created by supermarkets and multinational companies, for everyday items such as toiletries and food. This packaging is often multi-layer, making it impossible to recycle, and is often designed with branding and cost-cutting (as opposed to functionality or sustainability) in mind. Big companies also have greater resources to make such a change.
In France, the government did target retailers with a ban on plastic fruit and vegetable packaging in January 2022 and, more recently, banning the use of takeaway containers when eating inside a restaurant. This has proven much more effective, although it has not been easy: some sectors of the fast-food industry have used the energy crisis as an excuse not to invest in the changes needed to meet the new regulations.
What should replace the banned items?
The temptation, following the announcement of a plastic ban, is to immediately search for a paper or “compostable” version of what was previously used. Ideally however, a ban should be part of a long-term transition towards a zero waste economy. It should be seen as an opportunity to target the throwaway culture in general. Rather than replacing plastic with more single-use items, a ban should support reuse systems for producers, retailers and consumers.
By encouraging companies to innovate, such systems can be created, tested and evaluated before the ban is implemented. People and businesses will have time to prepare, ensuring less resistance to the new regulations. These changes can further be supported by providing subsidies for investments in reusables and deposit return schemes.
How is the ban communicated?
Any ban needs to have a clear communication strategy for producers, retailers and consumers. If you don’t know about a ban, or you don’t understand it, how can you follow it? Bans are often portrayed as restrictions on freedom or consumer choice. By helping the public understand the reasons for the ban and framing it as an opportunity, governments can help people feel they are an essential part of a movement towards a better and cleaner world – which they are!
Once a ban has come into force, it is also vital to share its success and show people the positive impact they are having with their actions. A great example of a well-communicated media campaign is in Morocco. The government used artists, celebrities and community cleanups to help introduce its plastic ban in 2016.
Is the ban enforceable?
People and businesses affected by a ban will often try to find exceptions or loopholes that will allow them not to cooperate.
Generally, governments use fines against law-breakers, but these can be costly and very difficult to enforce on a large scale. For example, in New York, USA, a plastics ban was introduced in 2020, but very few of the businesses failing to meet the regulations have suffered any consequences. Therefore, people continue to use the items that have been banned.
The key to consistent enforcement is social pressure. If a ban is generally accepted by the public and the reasons for it understood, any violations will naturally be called out. This reduces the investment needed by governments to monitor and chase up infringements.
This of course goes hand-in-hand with a good communication strategy, as mentioned above.
Single-use plastic bans are essential in reducing plastic pollution worldwide and play a significant role in shifting towards a zero waste society. However they need to be done in the right way. With the correct items included in the ban, support for systemic change, a well-communicated campaign and social enforcement, they can be transformative rather than an expensive waste of time.
‘Recycled’ Amazon packaging burns at illegal dumpsite
Amazon packaging that environmentally conscious citizens had diligently recycled in North American was found burning at an illegal dumpsite in India. This story was announced shortly after it was revealed that Amazon plastic packaging had increased, despite their promises to do better. Do you trust the recycling process in your area?
The EU has finally banned waste exports to non-OECD countries. Countries such as Malaysia and Thailand will no longer deal with dangerous and mismanaged waste from richer countries. Do you think these new regulations could help us move towards a zero waste economy?
A study has found that when kids are encouraged to write stories about plastic pollution, they focus more on preventing it than on ways to deal with existing litter. Can this study change the way we talk to kids about plastic?
Activists sue top polluter Danone over use of plastic
The 2022 Brand Audit revealed the top polluters for the last five years. The information has inspired activists in France to sue Danone for their contribution to plastic pollution.
Tobacco companies required to help clean up cigarette butts
New regulations in Spain will require Tobacco companies to help cleanup cigarette buts and support education in how to dispose of them properly. The move is part of the EU’s commitment to holding polluters accountable for their waste.
Reuse and refill programmes turning the tide on plastic
Refill and Reuse programmes are on the rise! Businesses in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia are making zero-waste a reality. Do you know a business doing the same?
What do you think about these stories? Let us know in the comments!
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