We’re Making More Single-Use Plastic Than Ever
Listen to the story (Kenyan accent)
A new report says that the world is producing a record amount of single-use plastic.
The study, conducted by the Minderoo Foundation, says that the world created 139 million metric tons of single-use plastic waste in 2021. That’s 6 million metric tons more than in 2019, the first time the study was done.
6 million metric tons is about equal to 1 kilogram of plastic for every person on Earth.
According to the report, the increase in single-use plastic is mostly for packaging.
Governments around the world have been trying to reduce the amount of single-use plastic that is used. Some places have banned plastic products like straws, forks and knives, bags, and even balloons.
California wants to decrease plastic packaging by 25% by 2032. The UK also added more items to its list of banned plastics. India, Australia and the European Union have also started bans.
However, recycling is not keeping up with the amount of plastic produced, which means increased waste in landfills, beaches, and waterways.
The report says that only two petrochemical companies, Far Eastern New Century from Taiwan and Indorama Ventures from Thailand are producing large amounts of recycled plastics. Indorama Ventures is the world’s largest producer of recycled plastic used for drink bottles.
Andrew Forrest, the founder of the Minderoo Foundation, suggests a tax on every kilogram of plastic produced from fossil fuels. He thinks this will push companies and governments to recycle more.
He also says that the money collected from the tax can be used to create jobs for people to clean up plastic waste.
Vocabulary28 words
- Report
- a written description of an event; story; article; the results of a study or project
- Produce
- to create or make something
- Record
- the most or least ever; the highest level ever; achieved for the first time
- Amount
- quantity; number; total; sum; size
- Single-use plastic
- plastic things that are made to be used only one time and then thrown away, e.g., straws and food packaging
- Study
- the activity of examining/studying something in detail to discover new information; research; investigation
- Conduct
- to do; to organize; to carry out; to perform
- Create
- to make something new or original; produce
- Metric ton
- 1,000 kilograms (kg)
- Waste
- garbage; trash; unwanted materials or products that are thrown away
- Earth
- the planet/world we live on ?
- According to
- as ‘someone’ said; as stated by ‘someone’; in the opinion of ‘someone’
- Packaging
- materials used to wrap and protect products for sale and transport; the box or plastic container that a product is in
- Around the world
- worldwide; in many places in the world; in many countries
- Reduce
- to make less; make smaller; decrease; bring down; shrink
- Ban
- to not allow; to stop; to forbid; prohibit;
- Straw
- a thin tube made of plastic or paper that is used to drink liquids; ?
- Balloon
- ?;
- Recycling
- the process of converting waste materials into new products; the action of taking things that have already been used and making them ready to be used again;
- Keep up
- go at same speed as others; continue to do something; match; challenge; meet the demand
- Landfill
- an area where garbage/trash is collected and put under the ground
- Waterway
- river or canal; a passage of water
- Petrochemical
- a chemical made from petroleum or natural gas
- Founder
- a person who starts a new company
- Suggest
- propose; to put forward; to recommend; to submit
- Tax
- money that a government requires people or businesses to pay
- Fossil fuel
- natural resources like coal, oil, and gas that are made from the remains of ancient plants and animals
- Collect
- bring together; gather; take in
Discussion questions
- Why do you think single-use plastic production is increasing even though governments and people are trying to reduce it?
- In your opinion, should companies be held responsible for the plastic waste they produce? How can this be done? Should consumers or governments also be responsible?
- What are your thoughts on Andrew Forrest's suggestion to impose a tax on plastic produced from fossil fuels? Do you think this would effectively reduce plastic waste?
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