Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Ecosystem Services, Sustainable Development Goals, and Need to Focus on Circular Economy and Policy Interventions

🤖 Plain-English Summary

Plastic pollution is ubiquitous in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Empowering and educating communities and citizens to act collectively to minimize plastic pollution and use alternative options for plastics must be promoted and enforced.

🔑 Key Findings

• Plastic waste exposed to the environment creates problems and is of significant concern for all life forms.
• Plastic production and accumulation in the natural environment are occurring at an unprecedented rate due to indiscriminate use, inadequate recycling, and deposits in landfills.
• In 2019, the global production of plastic was at 370 million tons, with only 9% of it being recycled, 12% being incinerated, and the remaining left in the environment or landfills.

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