Growing Plastic Pollution in the Ocean in Wake of COVID-19
Published:29 Jul.2020 Source:Sea Wanderer
Our beaches and ocean have been hit by a tidal wave of COVID-19 waste including plastic face masks, gloves, hand sanitizer bottles and food packaging.
Coronavirus lockdowns around the globe have led to a dramatic 5% drop in greenhouse gas emissions, according to UNCTAD estimates, but not all measures to contain the pandemic have had a positive impact on the environment.
Historical data tell us that about 75% of coronavirus plastic will likely become waste clogging our landfills and floating in our seas. The negative spillover effects of plastic waste on fisheries, tourism and maritime transport, for example, add up to an estimated $40 billion each year, according to the UN Environment Programme.