The Star Malaysia - Star2

World awash with plastics

The world’s oceans and marine life are at risk from plastic waste due to our throwaway lifestyle.

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EVER- increasing amounts of plastic waste are pouring into the world’s oceans, and most of it comes from communitie­s in Asia.

A report from environmen­t advocacy group Ocean Conservanc­y showed that some eight million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean annually, and over half of that waste comes from five rapidly developing countries where production and consumptio­n of plastics have outpaced local waste management capacity. The countries are China, Indonesia, the Philippine­s, Vietnam, and Thailand.

Plastic waste in all its forms, from plastic bottles to plastic bags, discarded plastic shoes, spray cans, straws, lids, cups, deodorants and lighters, are among the gamut of plastic detritus choking waterways.

Plastic microbeads in cleansers and toothpaste also find their way into the world’s water to form the newest threat to sea life. Mistaken

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 ??  ?? French Minister for ecology, sustainabl­e developmen­t and energy segolene royal looks at waste collected in the sea during a visit to the Plastic Garbage Project exhibit in Marseille, France. — reuters
French Minister for ecology, sustainabl­e developmen­t and energy segolene royal looks at waste collected in the sea during a visit to the Plastic Garbage Project exhibit in Marseille, France. — reuters

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