WASHINGTON (December 1, 2016) –On December 1 CNN released the video “Plastic Island,” a video/digital documenatry about the problem of marine litter on Midway Atoll. The American Chemistry Council (ACC) issued the following statement, which may be attributed to Steve Russell, vice president of plastics:
“None of us wants to see plastics or trash of any kind end up in our oceans or on beaches. Last year the Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas Alliance® released, Stemming the Tide: Land-based strategies for a plastic-free ocean, a first-of-its-kind analysis that evaluates specific land-based solutions for plastic waste in the ocean. The recommendations have subsequently been mirrored by reports and recommendations from the United Nations Environment Assembly and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
“Since 2011, plastics makers have been partners in many efforts to research and prevent marine debris around the world under our “Declaration of the Global Plastics Solutions for Solutions on Marine Litter,” which has been signed by 68 plastics associations in 34 countries. The Declaration focuses on education, public policy, best practices, plastics recycling and recovery, plastic pellet containment, and research.
“Each association has committed to work on solutions in these focus areas. Our 2016 Progress Report lists 260 projects that have been completed or are in progress in various parts of the world since the effort began.
“Marine debris is too big of an issue for any one organization, government, country or region to solve. It is a complex, global challenge that deserves thoughtful consideration and action on the part of government, scientists, and industries working together.”
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