A recent study has unveiled the vast extent of improperly discarded waste and the open incineration of plastic materials in a groundbreaking global inventory of plastic pollution. Utilizing artificial intelligence, researchers examined waste management across more than 50,000 municipalities worldwide. This innovative model enabled them to estimate the total amount of waste produced globally and to track its fate.
A recent study from the University has unveiled the vast extent of improperly discarded waste and the open incineration of plastic materials in a groundbreaking global inventory of plastic pollution.
Researchers from the University of Leeds implemented A.I. to analyze waste management across over 50,000 municipalities globally. This approach allowed the team to estimate global waste generation and its subsequent handling.
Their research, published in the journal Nature, revealed that an astonishing 52 million tonnes of plastic items were released into the environment in 2020 — enough to encircle the globe more than 1,500 times if laid end to end.
The study also disclosed that over two-thirds of the world’s plastic pollution originates from uncollected waste, with nearly 1.2 billion individuals — 15% of the global population — lacking access to proper waste collection services.
Moreover, roughly 30 million tonnes of plastics, representing 57% of the total plastic pollution, were incinerated without any environmental safeguards in place, taking place in homes, on streets, and at landfills. The practice of burning plastic poses severe health risks, including neurodevelopmental issues, reproductive problems, and birth defects.
New hotspots contributing to plastic pollution were identified, with India emerging as the leading contributor — a shift from previous reports that pointed to China — followed by Nigeria and Indonesia.
Insufficient waste management negatively impacts health, environment, and economy
The researchers assert that the findings indicate waste collection should be regarded as a fundamental human right and a crucial component of sanitation, analogous to water and sewage services.
Historically, the issue of unregulated plastic burning has received minimal attention, but the new data indicates it is at least as significant a problem as improperly disposed waste, even when considering uncertainties in the model.
Dr. Costas Velis, an expert in Resource Efficiency Systems from Leeds’ School of Civil Engineering, spearheaded the research. He emphasized the need to intensify efforts to address open burning and unmanaged waste to prevent further needless suffering caused by plastic pollution. He remarked, “This issue cannot be allowed to slip into obscurity.”
Dr. Josh Cottom, the primary author and Research Fellow in Plastics Pollution at Leeds, noted that uncollected waste is the primary driver of plastic pollution, compelling at least 1.2 billion people without waste collection services to deal with their rubbish by either landfilling, dumping in waterways, or burning.
Dr. Cottom added, “The health hazards posed by plastic pollution predominantly affect the world’s most disadvantaged communities, who are powerless to combat it. By enhancing basic waste management systems, we can significantly reduce plastic pollution and improve the living conditions of billions.”
Each year, over 400 million tonnes of plastic are manufactured. Many of these products are single-use, difficult to recycle, and can persist in the environment for decades, often breaking down into smaller fragments. Some plastics contain potentially harmful chemicals that may threaten human health, particularly when burned openly.
Emerging hotspots of plastic pollution identified
China, once cited as the leading polluter, is now ranked fourth with 2.8 million tonnes, reflecting improvements in waste collection and management over recent years. The UK was positioned 135th, generating roughly 4,000 tonnes annually, with littering identified as the primary source.
While low and middle-income countries do generate less plastic waste overall, a significant portion remains either uncollected or is disposed of improperly at dumpsites. India stands out as the foremost contributor due to its large population of around 1.4 billion and low rates of waste collection.
The disparity between plastic waste production in the Global North versus the Global South is stark. Despite higher rates of plastic use in the North, macroplastic pollution (defined as plastic items larger than 5 millimeters) remains a relatively minor concern there due to effective waste management systems; littering is the primary cause of macroplastic pollution in these regions.
Concerns are rising for sub-Saharan Africa
While sub-Saharan Africa generally experiences lower levels of plastic pollution, it becomes a significant concern on a per capita basis, averaging 12 kg of plastic pollution per person annually — equivalent to over 400 plastic bottles. In contrast, the United Kingdom’s per capita pollution is under three plastic bottles yearly.
Researchers fear that sub-Saharan Africa may transform into the world’s largest plastic pollution source in the upcoming decades, given its poor waste management systems and predicted rapid population growth.
The world requires a science-based ‘Plastics Treaty’
The researchers advocate for this inaugural global inventory of plastic pollution to serve as a benchmark, akin to those established for greenhouse gas emissions, allowing policymakers to confront this pressing environmental crisis. They call for a new, ambitious, legally binding global ‘Plastics Treaty’ focused on addressing the sources of plastic pollution through enhanced waste management and resource recovery strategies.
Dr. Velis stated, “This represents a critical global human health issue – an evolving crisis: communities burdened by uncollected waste are left with no choice but to dispose of it through dumping or burning. While incinerating plastics may create the illusion of making them ‘vanish’, the reality is that open burning can inflict significant harm on human health, including neurodevelopmental issues, reproductive problems, birth defects, and widespread environmental contamination.”
