Plastic combustion presents growing dangers to public wellbeing, according to experienced professionals.
In many developing countries, the practice of open burning of plastic waste remains widespread, particularly in regions with low recycling rates and inadequate formal waste management systems[1][3][5]. This is a pressing concern, as the health and environmental impacts associated with open burning are severe.
Open burning releases toxic emissions, including hazardous chemicals like dioxins, furans, and particulate matter. These emissions pose significant respiratory and other systemic health risks to waste pickers, workers, nearby communities, and vulnerable populations in developing countries[1][2]. Chicken egg sampling studies near an Indonesian plastic-burning tofu factory detected the second-highest levels of dioxin contamination recorded in Asia[5]. Similar studies have found contaminated eggs near plastic and waste burning sites in Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria[4].
Indoor air pollution from burning plastics leads to elevated risks of respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other life-threatening conditions[3]. Open burning of plastic also releases numerous dangerous toxins into the air, including fine particulate matter, a driver of millions of air pollution deaths annually[2].
The environmental impacts are equally concerning. Open burning contributes to air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and the release of persistent organic pollutants. It worsens climate change by emitting carbon and toxic chemicals. Burning plastic waste also leads to contamination of soil and water ecosystems through deposition of toxic ash and unburned residues[2][3].
Research estimates from Guatemala found that open burning generates a heavy environmental toxic load, contributing significantly to the nation's total emissions[4]. Plastics are essentially solid fossil fuels and when they burn, they release potent greenhouse gases[3].
The onus for resolving the plastic waste problem must lie, at least in part, with plastic producers. The plastics treaty should address production while ensuring that what is produced is also chemically safe[1]. Extended producer responsibility policies are urgently needed at the international level[1].
Nations must agree to limit plastic production and, wherever possible, ban the worst toxic components[1]. Communities need awareness-raising campaigns to trigger a shift in mindset to reduce harmful burning of plastics in households[1]. Governments must put effective waste management strategies and systems in place[1].
Cleanup campaigns can sometimes worsen the plastic waste problem by paradoxically resulting in increased burning[3]. The plastics treaty should not become a back-end loaded waste management agreement[3].
Experts agree that plastic burning by communities, businesses, and industry is a critical issue that should be addressed at the upcoming UN plastics treaty summit in Geneva[3]. The global human health impacts of plastic waste due to open burning are largely understudied[1], making it crucial to prioritise research in this area. The environmental effects of plastic burning have also been poorly researched[3].
Dioxins are among the deadliest of all poisons, causing cancer, developmental issues, and immune system damage[3]. It is essential to tackle the open burning of plastic waste to protect public health and the environment, and to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
- The open burning of plastic waste in developing countries releases toxic emissions, such as dioxins and furans, which pose significant health risks to waste pickers, workers, and nearby communities.
- The environmental consequences of open burning are equally damaging, contributing to air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and the release of persistent organic pollutants, worsening climate change by emitting carbon and toxic chemicals.
- Experts warn that the global human health impacts of plastic waste due to open burning are largely understudied, making it crucial to prioritize research in this area to understand and mitigate these effects.
- To address the critical issue of plastic burning, the upcoming UN plastics treaty summit in Geneva should focus on limiting plastic production, banning toxic components, implementing extended producer responsibility policies, and promoting awareness-raising campaigns to prevent harmful burning in households and communities.
