Page 36 - Plastics News June 2021

internAtionAL news

Report finds rise in food packaging US Plastic industry appreciates

litter on Canada shorelines Biden's recycling commitment

he amount of food packaging litter found on shorelines he Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) in
Tin Canada almost doubled last year, according to a Tthe US has applauded the Biden Administration’s
new report. The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup’s commitment to providing $14.5 million in funding
annual ‘Dirty Dozen’ report found that single-use food through the Plastics Innovation Challenge, for projects
and beverage packaging accounted for 26.6% of all litter supporting the development of advanced plastics
found on the country’s coasts last year, compared with recycling technologies and new plastics that are
recyclable-by-design. “We’re very encouraged to see
the Biden Administration recognise the importance
of recycling infrastructure to a sustainable, circular
economy,” said Tony Radoszewski, PLASTICS’ president
and chief executive. “Plastics are at the centre of life
in the 21st Century. We all enjoy their benefits every
day. The Plastics Innovation Challenge will help us all
to enjoy those many benefits with greater confidence
about the effect we’re having on the environment.
This is a great first step and the plastics industry
will continue to work with the Biden Administration
and Congress to ensure that continued investment in
America’s recycling infrastructure is included in any
15.3% in 2019. Volunteers also saw the influence of the
Covid-19 pandemic on litter, with masks and other personal upcoming federal infrastructure package.” The funding
protective equipment (PPE) found during cleanups.Great will support a range of projects to develop economically
Canadian Shoreline Cleanup outreach specialist Julia viable solutions to convert plastics films to more
valuable materials and to design new plastics that are
Wakeling said: “We suspect this change may be one of more recyclable and biodegradable. These solutions
the many implications of Covid-19, including more people
ordering restaurant takeaways and consuming more
individually packaged foods. “We didn’t have a category
on our data cards last year to formally track the amount
of PPE-related litter that volunteers were finding, but we
have added one for this year. This year’s results will be very
interesting.” The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is a
conservation partnership by Ocean Wise and WWF-Canada.
The initiative saw a 70% drop in participation last year,
with cleanups being suspended for four months before
being restricted to solo and single-household events.Last
year, around 15,000 people removed more than 41,000kg
of litter from Canadian shorelines under the programme. can increase investments in recycling processes and
In 2019, 83,815 volunteers removed 163,505kg. WWF- recycling jobs across America and reduce the amount
Canada president and CEO Megan Leslie said: “Every piece of plastics that ends up in the environment. Support
of garbage we remove from our freshwater and marine for enhancing America’s recycling infrastructure has
shorelines is one less piece that can harm wildlife. “We bipartisan support in Congress. The plastics industry
are so grateful to all of our Shoreline Cleanup volunteers has also been engaged in efforts to increase funding
for their efforts to protect wildlife habitat and hope all for recycling programmes by supporting bills like the
Canadians will join us this year in taking action to help bipartisan RECOVER Act and other legislation to invest
nature thrive.” in recycling technologies.

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