We continue our series of posts on the impact of plastic on the most vulnerable communities as part of the Plastic Free July campaign
As much as one billion tonnes of waste could be burning in open fires – almost half of the municipal solid waste generated on Earth is burned.
The impact on human health in poorer communities is extreme. “Uncontrolled waste fires burn at much lower temperatures, which means combustion is incomplete. This releases substances from the waste and creates new ones as molecules are decomposed and reformed in the flames. Dioxins and related compounds are often formed when PVC is burned in open fires. At least 30 of these types of compound are considered harmful to human health. They can persist in the environment for years and in the human body for perhaps a decade or more. There is the danger that they can damage the brain and disrupt hormones.”(Velis C, the Conversation)
In wealthy countries waste may be burned in Energy-from- waste plants (EFW), using expensive equipment . This is a very expensive process so is often exported to lower and middle income countries where it is burnt openly .
Globally two billion people do not have their solid waste collected at all, which means they have no choice but to burn it or throw it in the river if there is one nearby.
Another risk is that of electronic equipment, some informal recyclers burn away the PVC insulation to reach the copper and other metals to be sold, releasing toxic fumes.
The burning of plastic waste is a massive environmental and health challenge . It is also an issue of injustice and environmental racism.
#plasticfreejuly
