This year’s theme is #BeatPlasticPollution and it’s not a day too late: We are breathing, drinking and digesting plastic, while the world’s oceans are choking in plastic litter. More than half of the world’s plastic waste ended up in China (Asia Times, May 25, 2018), but starting this year, the country has banned importation of 24 types of waste. Similarly, the American Chemistry Council – whose membership counts plastic producers – has launched its “plastics-to-fuel” campaign suggesting the burning of unrecyclable plastics to produce various petroleum-based products (plastic is made from petroleum or petrochemicals). The ban has exposed the poor state of plastic recycling in the developed countries, that rather than address the problem at home simply shipped out most of their used plastic. In Cebu, plastic still rules with stores giving plastic bags except on a no-plastic bag day once a week.

Source: Manila Times June 03, 2018 16:19 UTC