One of the biggest environmental problems in the world today is plastic pollution, which harms marine ecosystems, wildlife and human populations. From banning the use of plastics to various hygiene campaigns, many countries are taking steps to reduce plastic pollution. This was followed by the response of several countries to the growing global crisis and other places where the use of plastics is harming the planet.
1. European Union
On March 27, 2019, the European Parliament voted to ban the use of unique plastics across the EU in 2021. The law was passed to tackle increased plastic pollution on the coast and at sea.
2. Ivory Coast
In 2014, the government of this African country imposed a ban on plastic bags used for bottled water to reduce pollution.
3. Kenya
In August 2017, Kenya passed a law prohibiting the manufacture, sale, and use of plastic bags. Those found in violations can face up to four years in prison or fines of up to $ 40,000.
The shoreline of the Thames Estuary, a place to look for wading birds and other marine wildlife, has struggled with plastic pollution. According to the Thames River Watch survey, plastic bottles make up 10 % of all riverbank waste.
The government promised $ 81.5 million to combat plastic pollution in the world's oceans in April 2018, and in October 2018 it joined more than 250 organizations to sign the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Global Plastics Economic Commitment to address plastic waste and global pollution.
5. Bangladesh
The first country in the world to impose a ban on thin plastic bags since 2002.
6. Norway
Scientists at the University of Bergen took 30 plastic bags from the stomach of a dead whale on the West Coast in 2017. The country was able to recycle about 97 per cent of plastic bottles. They have installed reverse vending machines in place so that people throw their trash. These machines were later taken to a special recycling area.
7. Cambodia
From April 10, 2018, the government will charge $ 0.99 (400 reals) per plastic bag for customers in shopping centres and supermarkets. Heng Nareth, director of environmental protection at the Ministry of Environment, said: "[This initiative] is not about earning the country's income, but about reducing people's use of plastic bags in Cambodia by changing people's attitudes and thinking about the impact on the environment and society."
8. China
One of the world's largest plastics producers, as of 2013, the country has recycled about half of the world's plastics. On January 1, 2018, the country imposed a ban on global waste recycling, a trend that has put many countries in the trend, such as the United States. The United States exports more than 1.42 million tons of used plastics annually for recycling.
9. Greece
According to news reports published by the Associated Press, from January 1, 2018, stores across the country for plastic bags started. In particular, only 16 per cent of the country's waste is recycled, compared to 44 per cent of the European Union.
10. New Zealand
The country has banned disposable plastic shopping bags since July 2019. Environment Minister Eugenie Sage said: "New Zealanders are proud of our country's clean and green reputation and we want to help make sure we meet all of that ... helping to do so by eliminating the use of disposable plastic shopping bags."
In February 2016, the country launched a campaign to reduce the use of plastic bags and asked retailers to charge consumers up to $ 0.37 for each use of plastic bags.
According to the non-profit environmental organization Ocean Conservancy, more than half of the ocean plastic waste comes from five countries - Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
12. Hong Kong
Environmentalists have warned that plastic has killed marine wildlife, especially turtles who eat bags that they ate as jellyfish after more than 2,000 volunteers showed up at Lama Island's Turtle Cove to clean up mass waste.
13. Italy
The Isole Tremiti, an archipelago off the east coast of Italy, has banned plastic equipment, including plates, cups and other utensils, since May 1, 2018.
To prevent plastic pollution, fishermen in Livorno organized a project called Archipelago Pulito in 2018, where they collected plastics caught in their fishing nets and brought them to shore for recycling in specialized factories. Each fish caught contains about 10 per cent plastic waste.
14. German
According to PlasticsEurope, of all European countries, the highest demand for plastic is in Germany. Their 2018 Plastics report states that Germany is responsible for 24.6 per cent of European plastic conversion demand.
15. Thailand
In 2018, the country’s Pollution Control Department reported that plastic waste increased by 12 per cent or about 2 million tons annually.
In April 2018 a sperm whale was found dead off the coast of Spain. An autopsy revealed that the whale had 29 kg of plastic in its stomach, which blocked its digestive system and caused its death.
17. India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to eliminate all disposable plastics across the country by 2022.
18. The Philippines
Greenpeace ranks the country as "the third-worst polluter in the world's oceans" after China and Indonesia. Disposable plastic products produced by giant companies have been named as a key factor.
In 2017, volunteers collected 148,636 pieces of plastic, 77,434 food packages and 46,041 plastic bottle caps during a one-day beach cleaning campaign off the coast of California.
20. Pakistan
According to research by the World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan, several inaccessible beaches along the coast, such as Gwadar and Kund Molir, are filled with plastic, posing a serious threat to marine life.
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