Plastic waste

A report has revealed the petrochemical companies behind 90 per cent of the world's plastic waste, and the banks and financial institutions that fund them.

"We keep putting millions of tonnes of plastic into the ocean every year. This research shows that it is not going to stay there forever. The ocean is giving it back to us," said researcher Steve Allen.

It is estimated that around eight million tonnes of plastic makes its way into the planet's oceans every year.

The results of the study question the widely held assumption that most plastic debris at sea comes from land-based sources, the authors say.

Plastic fragments are frequently ingested by a wide range of marine animals that often mistake the substance for food.

"It's highly likely that any pollution that impacts the health of soil fauna, such as earthworms, may have cascading effects on other aspects of the soil ecosystem, such as plant growth," researcher Connor Russell said.

After 76 days, Antonio de la Rosa arrived in Honolulu on Saturday in his motorless rig. "My arms and my legs are my motor," said the 50-year-old Spaniard.

Each week, students at the Akshar Foundation School in Assam are asked to bring in 25 recyclable plastic items, which are then transformed into low-cost, durable construction material.

Nara park is home to more than 1,000 free-roaming sika deer which have been designated a national treasure and are even considered sacred by some.

Thousands of tons of plastic "recycling" have been sent to Malaysia from the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Europe, Japan and elsewhere. It's time these nations stepped up to help deal with their own waste.

"The problem in the end is that this plastic will accumulate in the tissues of fish, will diffuse its toxic products and we will eat these fish," said a member of a local French marine association.

Alabama moves to prohibit bans on plastic bags and single-use containers.

The innovative Recycled Park Project aims to catch plastic waste before it enters the sea and convert it into floating island parks that are run by local communities.

Around the world, one million plastic drinking bottles are purchased every minute. Up to five trillion disposable plastic bags are used every year.

The breakthrough represents a major step toward providing an alternative to regular plastics.

Scientists found the ice contained up to 12,000 microplastic particles per liter.

The enzyme could be a powerful new weapon in the fight against plastic pollution.

"Boy, what an advance it would be to be able to see the world in a snapshot."

Ninety-three percent of 259 bottles from 11 leading international brands were contaminated with plastics, according to a new study.