A recent study has unveiled alarming projections regarding global plastic waste generation, estimating a staggering 220 million tonnes for the year 2024.
This marks a significant increase of nearly 10% compared to 2021 figures, with each person contributing an average of 28 kilograms of plastic waste this year. Released on April 11, 2024, the Plastic Overshoot Day report by Swiss non-profit EA Earth Action sheds light on the escalating crisis of plastic pollution. The report emphasises that just 12 countries are responsible for 60% of the world’s mismanaged plastic waste, with China, USA, India, Brazil, and Mexico leading the charts. Notably, these findings precede the fourth round of negotiations for a UN Global Plastics Treaty scheduled in Ottawa, Canada.
Termed as ‘Drowning in Waste,’ last year marked the inception of the ‘Global Plastic Overshoot Day,’ symbolising the point at which global plastic waste production surpassed the planet’s capacity to manage it. Predictions indicate that this year, Global Plastic Overshoot Day will occur on September 5, 2024. Expanding its analysis beyond plastic packaging waste, this year’s report also encompasses plastic waste from the textile industry and household sources. With this broader scope, Plastic Overshoot Day for 2023 would have occurred on September 4, offering a one-day reprieve compared to the anticipated date for 2024. However, researchers have discovered a concerning trend: nearly half of the world’s population has been residing in areas where plastic waste generation exceeds management capacity since April 2024. By September 5, 2024, this figure is expected to rise to 66%, underscoring the growing pressures faced by developing nations in addressing the plastic pollution crisis. At the national level, each country determines its Plastic Overshoot Day based on its plastic waste generation and management capacity. With an alarming 117 days of plastic overshoot, urgent action is imperative to address the inadequacies in managing plastic waste. As the UN Plastic Treaty negotiations approach in Ottawa, experts emphasise the critical need for science-driven, comprehensive global policies to tackle the scale of the plastic pollution challenge effectively.
