Life of Plastic: Uruguay talks inch towards last two days; final decision still awaited

Subject : Environment

In the news-

Representatives from 175 countries endorsed a landmark resolution on plastic pollution at the United Nations Environment Assembly.
As a result, an intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC-1) was formed for the negotiations and the first round of negotiations on a global treaty to end plastic pollution in Uruguay’s Punta Del Este is about to end.

Breakout groups were formed and their respective discussions were:

The eliminating and designing for circularity (SG1 and SG2) group demanded-
- The definition of terms like ‘toxic’, ‘circularity’ and other frequently used terminologies.
- Standardisation in product design and the need for financing through schemes similar to extended producer responsibility.
- The need for capacity-building.

The circularity in practice (SG3) group demanded-
- The role of the private sector on plastic pollution issues be defined
- The establishment of infrastructure for sound plastic waste management.
The waste minimisation and remediation (SG4) group said compostable plasticsshould not be regulated.

The online forum discussions laid emphasis on:

The importance of monitoring and tracking, with clear, numerical, and verifiable targets.
The need for behavioural changes of consumers.
The need for a holistic approach to plastic pollution.
Participation in small island developing states, coastal communities, the Global South, and children and youth.
The need for transparency and accountability.
Closed loops and caps on production.
Controls on waste exports.
Fit-for-purpose infrastructure.
Taxation on virgin plastics and burning.
Extended Producer Responsibility.
Bans on unrecyclable and single-use plastics.
Harmonised design and reuse of plastics.

Major successes are-

Focus on the precautionary principle and polluter pays principle
Just transition for waste pickers.
A group of friends of waste-pickers, a voluntary body made up of representatives of member states worldwide, was formed to ensure that waste-pickers are heard at the INC.

Major drawbacks-

National action plans should not have had mandatory obligations.
Chemical recycling was still being pushed as a viable solution despite the high failure rate.
Industry was inclined towards voluntary action instead of mandates. Governments and industries focus on technology as a solution to the crisis.

Lack of representation-

The stakeholder forum was attended by 1,800 participants.
Dominated by Europe (24 per cent), followed by Asia-Pacific (21 per cent).
Non-profits and governments formed almost three-fourths of the stakeholder groups while there was an eight per cent representation from the industries involved across the plastic value chain.
Some groups opposed the presence of companies majorly responsible for plastic pollution.