EDITORIAL: Managing the plastics problemThe Ministry of Environment on Monday announced new plastic-reduction targets, including proposed restrictions on plastic wrapping for e-commerce and retail products. Measures could include banning polyvinyl chloride containers, promoting packaging-free shopping and encouraging the adoption of reusable packaging. A large majority — roughly 80 to 90 percent — of plastic waste is either sent to landfill or wantonly discarded, entering the environment. Although reducing non-recyclable plastics is a necessary goal, reuse schemes alone are unlikely to achieve the scale required to significantly reduce plastic waste. Sharing such innovations would not only enhance the nation’s standing on the global stage, but also help address the growing problem of plastic waste.
