The U.S. has become the world's largest producer of plastic waste

　　The U.S. has become the world's largest producer of plastic waste

　　Science and Technology Daily, Beijing, December 9th (intern reporter Zhang Jiaxin) According to a recent comprehensive report by the Washington Post and the Guardian, a report released by the US Congress recently stated that the US is the chief culprit in producing the most plastic waste in the world. The culprit, the country urgently needs a new strategy to curb the large amount of plastic that eventually enters the ocean.

　　The report pointed out that the emergence of cheap, multifunctional plastics has caused "a flood of plastic waste that seems to be ubiquitous on a global scale."

The United States is a major contributor to single-use plastics. A large amount of plastic will enter the ocean, entangle marine life and suffocate them, endanger the ecosystem, and bring harmful pollutants into the upper reaches of the food chain.

　　According to this analysis, the United States contributes more to the rubbish flooding than any other country.

Since 1960, the plastic waste in the United States has increased dramatically. At present, the United States generates about 42 million tons of plastic waste each year, which is more than the total amount of waste generated by all EU member states.

This is equivalent to about 130 kilograms of garbage per American.

The report found that the total amount of municipal waste generated in the United States is also 2-8 times that of comparable countries in the world.

　　According to the report, the U.S. recycling infrastructure has failed to keep up with the huge increase in U.S. plastic waste, and its landfills have problems such as littering, dumping garbage, and inefficient garbage disposal.

Researchers estimate that between 1.13 million and 2.24 million tons of plastic waste leaks into the environment each year in the United States.

Due to data differences in the tracking process, the total waste may be even greater.

　　"Plastic waste is an environmental and social crisis. From the source to the ocean, the United States needs to resolutely solve the problem." said Margaret Springs, chairman of the National Academy of Sciences Committee and Chief Conservation and Science Officer of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. "The plastic waste produced in the United States has many consequences, affecting inland and coastal communities, polluting rivers, lakes, beaches, bays and waterways, imposing social and economic burdens on vulnerable groups, endangering marine habitats and wildlife, and polluting humanity’s needs. To survive in the waters."