SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
In a piece published Thursday in the journal Nature, the international group of scientists make that argument that by reclassifying the most harmful plastic waste as hazardous material--much like chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, were in 1989--environmental agencies will be better equipped to regulate the waste and research less destructive alternatives.
"The United States, Europe, Japan and other nations classified plastic as solid waste, treating their disposal much like food scraps or grass clippings," said report coauthor Mark Anthony Browne. "It's an outdated view that plastics are inert ignoring scientific evidence [...] that plastic debris is laden with highly toxic pollutants."
"We believe that if countries classified the most harmful plastics as hazardous, their environmental agencies would have the power to restore affected habitats and prevent more dangerous debris from accumulating," says the report.
The proposal initially targets four kinds of plastics composed of the most toxic materials: polyvinylchloride, or PVC, used in plastic pipes; polystyrene, or popularly known as Styrofoam; polyurethane; and polycarbonate, a hard plastic used in making baby bottles, electronics and appliances.
"We feel," the group writes, "that the physical dangers of plastic debris are well enough established, and the suggestions of chemical dangers sufficiently worrying, that the biggest producers of plastic waste--the United States, Europe and China--must act now."
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
In a piece published Thursday in the journal Nature, the international group of scientists make that argument that by reclassifying the most harmful plastic waste as hazardous material--much like chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, were in 1989--environmental agencies will be better equipped to regulate the waste and research less destructive alternatives.
"The United States, Europe, Japan and other nations classified plastic as solid waste, treating their disposal much like food scraps or grass clippings," said report coauthor Mark Anthony Browne. "It's an outdated view that plastics are inert ignoring scientific evidence [...] that plastic debris is laden with highly toxic pollutants."
"We believe that if countries classified the most harmful plastics as hazardous, their environmental agencies would have the power to restore affected habitats and prevent more dangerous debris from accumulating," says the report.
The proposal initially targets four kinds of plastics composed of the most toxic materials: polyvinylchloride, or PVC, used in plastic pipes; polystyrene, or popularly known as Styrofoam; polyurethane; and polycarbonate, a hard plastic used in making baby bottles, electronics and appliances.
"We feel," the group writes, "that the physical dangers of plastic debris are well enough established, and the suggestions of chemical dangers sufficiently worrying, that the biggest producers of plastic waste--the United States, Europe and China--must act now."
In a piece published Thursday in the journal Nature, the international group of scientists make that argument that by reclassifying the most harmful plastic waste as hazardous material--much like chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, were in 1989--environmental agencies will be better equipped to regulate the waste and research less destructive alternatives.
"The United States, Europe, Japan and other nations classified plastic as solid waste, treating their disposal much like food scraps or grass clippings," said report coauthor Mark Anthony Browne. "It's an outdated view that plastics are inert ignoring scientific evidence [...] that plastic debris is laden with highly toxic pollutants."
"We believe that if countries classified the most harmful plastics as hazardous, their environmental agencies would have the power to restore affected habitats and prevent more dangerous debris from accumulating," says the report.
The proposal initially targets four kinds of plastics composed of the most toxic materials: polyvinylchloride, or PVC, used in plastic pipes; polystyrene, or popularly known as Styrofoam; polyurethane; and polycarbonate, a hard plastic used in making baby bottles, electronics and appliances.
"We feel," the group writes, "that the physical dangers of plastic debris are well enough established, and the suggestions of chemical dangers sufficiently worrying, that the biggest producers of plastic waste--the United States, Europe and China--must act now."