30 Apr 2024

The UK’s bottle deposit and return scheme (DRS) has faced yet another delay, pushing its launch back to October 2027, four years later than originally planned. The BBC has reported that the delay was primarily attributed to disagreements between the UK and Welsh governments over whether to include glass in the scheme. Prolonged negotiations Initially, […]

22 Apr 2024

Global Plastics Treaty Delegates gather in Canada for the latest round of negotiations towards a Global Plastics Treaty(including in the marine environment), with analysis by EIA finding that the Treaty ‘could halve plastic production emissions’ and Pew puts forward its recommendations for a ‘Global Solution’. Meanwhile, research shows that plant-based plastic releases nine times less […]

09 Apr 2024

New research from CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and the University of Toronto in Canada, estimates up to 11 million tonnes of plastic pollution is sitting on the ocean floor. Dr Denise Hardesty, Senior Research Scientist with CSIRO, said this is the first estimate of how much plastic waste ends up on the ocean floor, […]

05 Mar 2024

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is intensifying efforts to safeguard the safe transportation of plastic pellets on ships, recognizing the potential environmental damage if released into the sea. During the meeting at IMO Headquarters from February 19 to 23, the Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 11) reached a consensus on draft recommendations for […]

30 Jan 2024

Researchers have found that two-thirds of hermit crabs species were pictured in “artificial shells” of plastic waste. The finding are published in the journal Science of the Total Environment and are based on analysis of photos, taken by wildlife enthusiasts, and published online. The researchers trawled the internet for pictures of Hermit crabs using the iEcology (internet Ecology) research […]

14 Nov 2023

An international group of scientists has cautioned against reliance on mechanical clean-up devices as a means of addressing the plastic pollution crisis. The researchers say they appreciate the clear and pressing need to tackle the millions of tonnes of waste that have already accumulated in the ocean and waterways. However, they caution that plastic removal […]