The world’s first plastic treaty could finance Global South waste management

Countries are working on a treaty to combat plastic pollution, but its effectiveness hinges on funding waste management in the Global South.

Saqib Rahim reports for Grist.

In short:

• The treaty aims to curtail plastic pollution through funding waste management systems, especially in developing countries.
• Billions of dollars are needed to establish proper waste management, but how to raise and allocate funds is still debated.
• Effective waste management could significantly reduce plastic entering the environment, which currently stands at 20 million metric tons annually.

Key quote:

“So what do you do when it's not collected? You dump it or dig a pit and bury it. Or you try and burn it.”

— Umesh Madhavan, research director at The Circulate Initiative

Why this matters:

Plastic pollution poses severe environmental and health risks, infiltrating ecosystems and human bodies. Efficient waste management in the Global South could drastically reduce pollution and protect vulnerable communities.

Related EHN coverage:

• Plastics treaty draft underway, but will the most impacted countries be included?
• “Plastic will overwhelm us:” Scientists say health should be the core of global plastic treaty
• Scientists: US needs to support a strong global agreement to curb plastic pollution