Jonathan Lambert
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
Each year, humanity produces over a billion tons of plastic.
Much of that plastic ends up as trash.
A study in the journal Nature Communications reveals that many households in low-income countries are burning that plastic trash to heat their homes or cook their food.
Across more than two dozen countries, nearly one in three people surveyed by researchers reported being aware of households burning plastic.
Sixteen percent said they'd done it themselves, either as a cheap source of fuel or just as a way of dealing with all that excess waste.
Burning plastic can create toxic fumes that harm health and contaminate food.
With plastic waste on track to triple by 2060, the problem will likely get much worse.
Each year, humanity produces over a billion tons of plastic.
Much of that plastic ends up as trash.
A study in the journal Nature Communications reveals that many households in low-income countries are burning that plastic trash to heat their homes or cook their food.
Across more than two dozen countries, nearly one in three people surveyed by researchers reported being aware of households burning plastic.
Sixteen percent said they'd done it themselves, either as a cheap source of fuel or just as a way of dealing with all that excess waste.
Burning plastic can create toxic fumes that harm health and contaminate food.
With plastic waste on track to triple by 2060, the problem will likely get much worse.
Each year, humanity produces over a billion tons of plastic.
Much of that plastic ends up as trash.
A study in the journal Nature Communications reveals that many households in low-income countries are burning that plastic trash to heat their homes or cook their food.