Waste & Resources
Since its invention, the production of plastic has been growing almost exponentially. Today, 4 percent of the world’s oil goes directly toward its production, with another 4 percent being used to supply the necessary energy to produce plastic.
That alone makes plastic a material that isn’t particularly environmentally friendly. Furthermore, a lot of plastic is used to make disposable products rather than lasting ones. Half of the 300 million tons of plastic produced each year is used only once.
The waste subgroup has recently submitted a response to the Government’s consultation on phasing out plastic take away containers and balloon sticks. Our next task is to produce a report for the website about how businesses and individuals can reduce their use of single use plastics. If you would like to get involved in this or other waste and resource campaigning such as incineration, or recycling and waste management in Greater Manchester please get in touch. Please contact cat[at]manchesterfoe.org.uk
Female workers sort out plastic bottles for recycling in a factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh 26 October 2016. Plastic not only poses an immense pollution problemit also exacerbates climate change. If plastic production stays on its current trajectory, by 2030, greenhouse gas emissions from plastic could reach 1.34 billion tons per year, equivalent to the emissions produced by 300 new 500MW coal-fired power plants. © Abir Abdullah
PREVIOUS CAMPAIGNS
Make It Better
Our campaign on the environmental and social impacts of the products we buy and use.
Plastic Free GM
The Plastic Free Greater Manchester campaign
Plastic Free Takeaways
Plastic Free Takeaways Campaign
