WINTER 2018 • SPOTLIGHT • 25
Can this hard hitting documentary do more than raise awareness of plastic pollution or can it actually help find a solution and stimulate opportunities for the recycling sector?
The BBC documentary, Blue Planet II, aired in late 2017 gave us all the reality check we needed to consider the impact we have on our environment. David Attenborough’s astonishing footage shows harrowing images of turtles snared in plastic netting and bags, dead birds with countless plastic items in their stomachs and finally the image of the pilot whale mother carrying her dead calf likely poisoned by plastic contaminants. Since these scenes were viewed by millions of people all over the world there has been public outcry against plastic pollution and a real attempt to address the situation.
It is not only the impact of this stark documentary, but also China’s ban on accepting low quality waste imports. Operation SWORD, which commenced at the beginning of this year, has seen 24 different grades of waste banned by the Chinese.
Quite simply the UK must take more responsibility for its own waste. Not just because we can no longer export our waste or the Blue Planet effect has made us aware of how pollution impacts the oceans, but because we have a duty to ensure our waste is handled responsibly. Crucially, it is in our economic interest to improve how we, as a nation, deal with our waste and in particular the issue of plastics recycling.
Unfortunately, the problem cannot be solved by the actions of concerned individuals reusing plastic bottles, banning drinking straws and bags for life. Although these help reduce the volume of plastic waste, we need national initiatives backed by Government Legalisation and further investment in the sector.
Colliers International
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