The plastic pollution

"Mountain of waste" prompts scientists to warn about microplastics

The amount of plastic waste in the world's oceans could triple in the next 20 years if the necessary measures are not implemented, according to a study that Reuters refers to.

It is believed to have strongly negative consequences for animal life, according to the news agency that visited the Argentine peninsula of Valdes, where the alarming situation is already evident. "Mountains of waste" pose a threat to everything from sea lions and fish to whales.

When objects from, among other things, the fishing industry are exposed to the sun, they eventually break down into microplastics, and it's not just the animals that are in danger.

- These plastics consist of chemicals and pollutants that can cause diseases for both humans and wildlife, says biologist Diego Gonzalez.

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Report: Plastic waste can be reduced by 96 percent

Policy measures could reduce the amount of plastic ending up in the environment by 96 percent by 2040, according to the most positive scenario in a new report from the OECD.

However, the body notes that it would be at the expense of economic growth. In addition, poorer countries would be forced to bear the greatest cost through large investments in waste management.

However, it must be put in relation to the costs of not acting, writes the OECD.