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REPORT 2019

STOP THE FLOOD OF PLASTIC How Mediterranean countries can save their sea CONTENTS © Nico Cardin / Y40 Deepest Pool

CALL TO ACTION 3 1. THE THREAT OF TO THE MEDITERRANEAN 6

Any reproduction in full or in part must mention the title, the lead author, 2. THE ROOT CAUSES OF PLASTIC LEAKAGE INTO THE MEDITERRANEAN 14 and credit the above-mentioned publisher as the copyright owner. 3. NATIONAL POLICY RESPONSES TO PLASTICS: GOOD PRACTICES AND KEY GAPS 26

Dalberg Advisors, WWF Mediterranean Marine 4. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY MAKERS 34 Initiative , 2019 “Stop the Flood of Plastic: How Mediterranean countries can save their sea” REFERENCES 39

Dalberg Advisors, and the team comprised of ANNEXES 41 Wijnand de Wit, Adam Hamilton, and Arianna Freschi.

Stefania Campogianni, WWF

Alona Rivord

Bianco Tangerine Snc

The report is available at:

page 2 | : How Mediterranean countries can save their sea WWF CALL TO ACTION: MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES TO STEP UP REGIONAL AND NATIONAL POLICY AMBITION TOWARDS NO PLASTIC IN NATURE BY 2030

Plastic has become a ubiquitous material in the Mediterranean. It is part of people’s everyday life and it is a usual presence on its beaches and at sea. Every year, 0.57 million tonnes of plastic enters Mediterranean waters. This is equivalent to dumping 33,800 plastic bottles into the sea every minute. Without action, this number will keep growing as plastic generation in the region is expected to quadruple by 2050. © SHUTTERSTOCK / JOHN CUYOS / WWF

It also disrupts the wealthy Blue Economy of the Mediterranean, and its coastlines. Regional economic losses attributed to plastic pollution are estimated at €641

Our analysis shows that in all Mediterranean countries plastic pollution is the result of failures across the entire plastic life cycle, including production, consumption, , and secondary markets for recycled material. Therefore action must be taken at all levels to ensure zero leakage of plastic into nature.

The Mediterranean region is the world’s fourth largest producer of plastic goods, and its residents and visitors generate 24 million tonnes of plastic waste each year. Tourism increases waste by up to one-third during the summertime in some countries, resulting in local waste management facilities being often overwhelmed.

: How Mediterranean countries can save their sea | page 3 More than half of plastic becomes waste less than a year after rather than recycled or reused. Few countries have achieved TOGETHER, ensure the steady supply of plastic material for . THROUGH COLLECTIVE

Almost one third of Mediterranean’s plastic waste is COMMITMENT mismanaged. This plastic, which either remains uncollected AND NATIONAL ACTION, to make its way into rivers, and eventually the sea. Every country in the region mismanages a proportion of its plastic waste and contributes to the problem of plastic pollution. GOVERNMENTS, INDUSTRY This is why, only by acting together, with ambitious and coherent policy actions, Mediterranean countries can achieve AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC zero plastic leakage into the sea by 2030. CAN ACHIEVE ZERO PLASTIC While cutting plastic consumption remains a prerequisite for reducing the region’s unbearable amount of waste, the zero LEAKAGE INTO NATURE waste model for the Mediterranean also includes minimizing and system. These systemic shifts will require strong AND THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA and best practices are already available across the region BY 2030. and should be shared and scaled-up to maximize impact.

governments, industry, and citizens to take responsibility unnecessary plastic is avoided and no plastic becomes waste. ALL ACTORS HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY.

page 4 | : How Mediterranean countries can save their sea WWF calls on Mediterranean governments to: WWF calls on industry to:

instead of passing the cost of waste on to society and nature. support each other in achieving this goal. • Design products that eliminate any unnecessary plastic, • Ban unnecessary and problematic single-use and that can be easily recycled and reused. plastic goods, and use extended producer • Produce goods made of recycled materials, without use of any responsibility schemes to hold industry unnecessary virgin (or new) plastic. accountable for the downstream impacts of their products. to ensure that all material is collected, reused WWF calls on members of the public to: and recycled. • Support the innovation of plastic alternatives • Avoid consuming single-use plastic goods, and adopt more environmentally sound alternatives. material. • Sort waste following the requirements of local municipalities. • Promote responsible consumption and proper waste management amongst residents and tourists. all needed actions.

: How Mediterranean countries can save their sea | page 5 1. THE THREAT OF PLASTIC POLLUTION TO THE MEDITERRANEAN 22 COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES[1] COMPRISING THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION PRODUCE 10 PER CENT OF ALL © ISTOCK / FLUXFACTORY PLASTIC GOODS, MAKING IT THE WORLD’S 4th LARGEST PLASTIC PRODUCER

Growing at four per cent per year, Mediterranean plastic goods production reached almost 38 million tonnes in 2016. This is equivalent to producing for each person living in the more than the global average. [2] Plastic production across all Mediterranean countries emits approximately 194million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, similar to six times the annual carbon emissions of London (See Annex 3).

page 6 | : How Mediterranean countries can save their sea Figure 1: OVERVIEW OF THE PLASTIC LIFECYCLE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN (million tonnes)

PLASTIC PLASTIC WASTE MISMANAGED PRODUCTION USAGE MANAGEMENT WASTE

37.8 13.8

1/4 24.0 3.6 OF PLASTIC 20.4 3.9 WASTE 3.3 IS LEAKED 10.2 INTO NATURE

0.2 2.8

PLASTIC GOODS PLASTIC GENERATED UNCOLLECTED COLLECTED RECYCLED [4] INCINERATED CONTROLLED UNCONTROLLED OPEN PRODUCTION STILL IN USE [2] WASTE [3] WASTE WASTE LANDFILLS DUMP INCL. EXPORTS [1]

[1] manufactured using local and imported virgin plastic material. It includes all plastic goods reported by national plastics associations which cover packaging, construction, transport, texiles, electronics, industrial equipment, and others (See Annex III for further details). [2] These are plastic goods produced with a mean product lifetime greater than 1 year, and/or exported for consumption in another country. [3] [4] In Europe less than 60% of the plastic collected for recycing is actually recycled; 40% is lost in the process. Recycling losses result from mixed plastic entering in the same recycling process, plastic additives making material unsafe to recycle, and plastic contamination from substances they held. Source: Plastic Europe 2018, UN COMTRADE database on import/exports, Jambeck & al (2014), (2018), Dalberg analysis.

: How Mediterranean countries can save their sea | page 7 Mediterranean countries generate 24 million tonnes of ONLY 72% plastic waste every year, managing only 72 per cent through OF PLASTIC WASTE controlled with some countries performing ENDS IN A CONTROLLED SYSTEM better than others. Of the waste generated, 20.4 million tonnes (85 per cent) are collected, into nature. Of the waste collected, 17.3 million tonnes (72 per cent) is managed through treatment: 10.2 million tonnes The remaining waste is managed inadequately with 0.2 million tonnes (12 per cent) dumped illegally. The 6.6 million tonnes of plastic waste referred to collectively as mismanaged waste, is the main source of LANDFILLING AND REMAIN THE MAIN DESTINATION OF WASTE Southern Mediterranean countries recycle less than 10 per cent of their = NO CIRCULAR SYSTEM plastic waste, which is a lower recycling rate than the region as a whole.[4]

Three Mediterranean countries account for two-thirds of plastic leaked into nature.[5] EGYPT TURKEY ITALY as seen by Figure 2, but given their plastic production and consumption + CAUSE patterns, size of economy, and current waste management systems, + 2/3 OF PLASTIC LEAKAGE [6] INTO NATURE

page 8 | : How Mediterranean countries can save their sea Figure 2: SUMMARY OF THE PLASTIC SYSTEM DRIVING IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

PLASTIC PLASTIC WASTE MISMANAGED PRODUCTION USAGE MANAGEMENT WASTE

PLASTIC PLASTIC WASTE CONTROLLED WASTE MISMANAGED PLASTIC LEAKAGE PRODUCTION GENERATION TREATMENT WASTE INTO SEA 37.81 MT 23.97 MT 17.45 MT 6.57 MT 0.57 MT % contribution to regional total by country

ITA % 16.3% 19.7% 7.6% 0.04 MT TUR 20.9% 15.4% 14.1% 19.1% 0.11 MT FRA 15.1% % % 1.4% 0.01 MT ESP 10.4% 9.9% 13.2% 1.4% 0.01 MT EGY 10.2% 12.6% 1.1% % GRE 2.5% 3.0% 3.9% 0.8% 0.01 MT MAR 1.9% 2.3% 1.2% 5.2% 0.01 MT CRO 1.4% 1.7% 2.1% 0.7% 0.01 MT TUN 0.8% 1.0% 0.9% 1.4% 0.01 MT [1] OTHER 15.7% 19.2% 18.6% 19.3% 0.11 MT

[1] Source: Dalberg analysis, Jambeck & al (2017), Liubartseva et al (2018) : How Mediterranean countries can save their sea | page 9 KEY PLASTIC HOTSPOTS TOTAL PLASTIC LEAKAGE INTO NATURE (2016) daily plastic debris 0-5 kgs per person accumulation on coastline (kg/km) 5-10 kgs per person 10-15 kgs per person SECONDARY 15-20 kgs per person PLASTIC HOTSPOTS >20 kgs per person

PO DELTA BAY 18.2 OF MARSEILLE 9.4 BARCELONA IZMIR 26.1 TURKISH CILICIA VALENCIA 7.2 31.3 12.9 12.2 ALGIERS of plastics in the sea comes from 21.0 20% maritime trade and fisheries 12.7 TEL-AVIV ALEXANDRIA Figure 3: COASTAL HOTSPOTS OF PLASTIC POLLUTION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

Source: Dalberg analysis, Jambeck & al (2017), Liubartseva et al (2018)

page 10 | : How Mediterranean countries can save their sea 0.57 million tonnes of plastic leaked into nature makes its way On-sea sources of plastic waste contribute an additional 0.1 million tonnes of plastic in the Mediterranean. 33,800 plastic bottles into the water every minute.[2] On-sea sources of pollution include loss of cargo or plastic While most plastic waste remains on land or in freshwater systems,[7] current evidence suggests that about 10 per cent of land-based pollution eventually becomes marine pollution.[8] Coastal activities contribute plastic entering the Mediterranean Sea each year. to half of plastic entering the Mediterranean Sea, and 30 per cent arrives from land via rivers. THE EQUIVALENT OF In contrast to global oceans, 80 per cent of marine plastic [9] The rest comes from on-sea pollution in the Mediterranean returns to land within a sources of plastic pollution.[10] 33,800 decade, polluting beaches and coastlines. PLASTIC BOTTLES Mediterranean countries ARE DUMPED Mediterranean Sea,[13] mismanage more waste than generation is expected to quadruple by 2050.[14] Sea currents and drifts Western Mediterranean countries INTO THE SEA EVERY MINUTE the Mediterranean.[15] EVERY km OF COASTLINE has the highest coastline pollution RECEIVES EVERY DAY plastic accumulates along each in the Mediterranean, followed CA. 5kg OF MARINE PLASTIC [16] Given by the coastal areas surrounding their length of coastlines and Barcelona and Tel Aviv. Other the high plastic concentrations in their coastal waters, Italy [11] to the Po River Delta, and the Bay coastline plastic debris each year. Ceyhan and Seyhan Rivers, the Po [17] Plastic waste accumulating on River Delta, and the Nile are the BILLION PLASTIC PIECES the sea bed is estimated to be most contaminated rivers feeding 247 nine times smaller than coastline [12] plastic into the sea. ARE FLOATING plastic accumulation, but is almost IN THE MEDITERRANEAN impossible to clean up.[18]

: How Mediterranean countries can save their sea | page 11 20% from microplastics MARINE SOURCES macroplastics PLASTICS ARE CREATING A SERIOUS CHALLENGE FOR NATURE, SOCIETY, AND THE ECONOMY over 150 million tonnes PLASTICS Plastic waste is damaging the Mediterranean ecosystem. The Mediterranean’s prosperous Blue Economy [19] represents 6% of the region’s GDP,[24] but loses an estimated [20] Globally today, over 700[21] marine species, including sea mammals €641 million to marine plastic and birds, are impacted by plastic through ingestion, entanglement, or habitat degradation.[22] The international pollution each year. Tourism, maritime trade, and impacted by plastic pollution.[25] (5 per cent).[23] Tourism accounts for over three-quarters of the current Mediterranean Sea economy, producing the remainder.[26]

R Y PLASTIC POLLUTION A SEABIRDS D E M A Y O 35% M RY N A E O TOURISM loses up to G EV EC E € E S LL U €268 m/year FISH NA MI BL TU 641 S 27% RE AGE DAM MARITIME INDUSTRY loses up to MARINE MAMMALS €235 m/year 13% REPTILES FISHING SECTOR loses up to MARITIME INDUSTRY 5% €138 m/year

page 12 | : How Mediterranean countries can save their sea TOURISM © VISUAL PERSISTENCE .[27] Tourism increases monthly waste generation by one-third during the summertime, costing an average of €1,300 per tonne.[28] Local leading to uncollected waste or unsafe management practices. As result, the tourism industry often bears the cost of the clean up to ensure locations remain attractive for tourists.

MARITIME INDUSTRY .[29] Maritime transport is particularly vulnerable to collisions with plastic [30] Costs are incurred by vessel downtime, delays and additional maintenance including clogging of waterways, which creates delays and incurs cleanup costs.[31]

FISHING SECTOR .[32] related to vehicle damage and maintenance caused by collision with [33]

: How Mediterranean countries can save their sea | page 13 2.THE ROOT CAUSES OF PLASTIC LEAKAGE INTO THE MEDITERRANEAN

Plastic pollution is the result of failures across the entire plastic life cycle, including production, consumption, waste management, and secondary markets for recycled material. The current plastic system does not hold actors accountable for the negative consequences of their actions or incentivize them to address the negative end users, governments, and waste management actors.

Figure 4: OVERVIEW OF THE MAIN SYSTEM FAILURES IN THE PLASTIC VALUE CHAIN

PLASTIC PLASTIC WASTE WASTE SECONDARY PRODUCTION USAGE COLLECTION TREATMENT MARKETS

Limited Limited for driven in some lead to in the recycling the true cost by single-use items. countries. open dumping or use sector, and secondary of plastic.

No incentives Seasonal waste Low rates of Low Limited supply for increases due . of SYSTEM FAILURES . to . for plastic waste. as inputs.

ONE QUARTER OF PLASTIC WASTE IS LEAKED INTO NATURE EACH YEAR

page 14 | : How Mediterranean countries can save their sea 1. PLASTIC PRODUCERS ARE NOT INCENTIVIZED OR OBLIGED TO ADDRESS THE TRUE COST OF PLASTIC.

Accelerated production of plastic goods in There are very limited incentives or regulation Mediterranean countries results from falling for producers to innovate product design to production costs that do not represent the full reduce the environmental impacts of plastic. lifecycle cost to nature and society. Due in part to these low costs, the 22 Mediterranean countries and territories produced 37.8 million tonnes of plastic goods in 2016. The cost of virgin plastic reused and the plastic material is recycled. Small production is increasingly low, as the cost of raw awards or grants are led by industry associations for materials, such as oil and natural gas, have declined by almost half over the last decade.[34] Most producers of plastic materials and goods are not required to [37] These provide good carry waste management costs, or the environmental visibility for the winners, but overall do not provide and social costs of pollution.[35] Regulatory incentives the necessary incentives to scale-up these innovations currently in place to curtail virgin plastic production, across the industry. or to develop sustainable alternatives, are very limited. For example, petrochemical companies emissions caused by virgin plastic MORE INCENTIVES production,[36] and petrochemical production is exempt from carbon FOR ECO-DESIGN emission caps. DESIGN WITH LESS PLASTIC CAN REDUCE UNNECESSARY PLASTIC IN PRODUCTS

: How Mediterranean countries can save their sea | page 15 2. THE MEDITERRANEAN POPULATION AND ITS TOURISTS PRODUCE HIGH QUANTITIES OF PLASTIC WASTE, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH IS DRIVEN BY CONSUMPTION OF SINGLE-USE PLASTIC PRODUCTS.

65 per cent of plastic consumed in Mediterranean countries becomes waste within a year, with single- increases waste generation use packaging items the biggest source of waste. on Mediterranean coasts, which are visited by over 200 The production of plastic per person is very high in million tourists each year.[41] average.[38] During summer months, tourists per cent of the total waste generated. In 2016, Greece was increase the total population using approximately 300 plastic bags per person yearly.[39] by over one-third across the Further, Italy is the largest consumer of bottled water globally, with about 178 litres of water sold in plastic period, waste generated increases bottles per person, per year.[40] substantially: Greece sees a waste

DENTIFRICIO increase of 23-26 per cent, while plastic products in Italy the increase is up to 30 per consumed cent in coastal areas. Local waste in Med countries SCRUB management facilities are often overwhelmed by this additional waste, which can lead to larger 65% amounts of mismanaged waste and OF PLASTIC CONSUMED IN THE MED marine increases by up to ENDS IN THE BIN 40 per cent on Mediterranean WITHIN A YEAR [42]

page 16 | : How Mediterranean countries can save their sea SUMMER TOURISTS © MILOS BICANSKI GENERATE

30% WASTE INCREASE IN SOME COASTAL MUNICIPALITIES

: How Mediterranean countries can save their sea | page 17 3. EFFECTIVE SYSTEMS REMAIN A CHALLENGE IN SEVERAL MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES. HIGHER SEPARATE WASTE COLLECTION = MORE PLASTIC FOR RECYCLING

Waste collection remains a problem in several Mediterranean countries, leaving 3.6 million separate collection for plastic, which would ensure the steady tonnes of plastic waste uncollected each year. supply of plastic waste for recycling. In most Mediterranean countries, municipalities are Italy is one of the very few Mediterranean countries to have implemented legally responsible for the collection of household waste. a separate collection stream for plastic, which collects 38 per cent of the Municipalities can conduct collection operations directly or outsource the service to private sector companies. as northern regions collect 57 per cent of plastic waste separately, while These are highly costly operations, especially in areas southern regions only collect 27 per cent.[44] France achieves high rates with lower population density and greater distances. In Tunisia, for example, waste collection and transport low levels of separate collection. The low number of collection points in some provinces places a high travel burden on consumers, and results in solid waste management budget.[43] In countries where low collection rates. Additionally, low collection rates can be the result of low citizen engagement. In countries where education around the environmental impact of waste 3.6 MT/YEAR OF PLASTIC WASTE REMAINS recyclables. Most countries do not enforce a penalty fee on consumers for UNCOLLECTED [45]

page 18 | : How Mediterranean countries can save their sea © BRIAN J. SKERRY / NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC STOCK / WWF

FISHING GEAR LOST OR ABANDONED AT SEA THREATENS MARINE WILDLIFE

ONLY 1.5% OF GEAR IS PROPERLY RECYCLED

: How Mediterranean countries can save their sea | page 19 4. WASTE MISMANAGEMENT IS THE RESULT OF INSUFFICIENT WASTE MANAGEMENT CAPACITY AND UNCONTROLLED OR ILLEGAL SITES, PRIMARILY IN THE SOUTHERN MEDITERRANEAN AND BALKANS.

A total of 6.6 million Open dumping and illegal waste disposal sites persist in tonnes of plastic waste is several countries, particularly in North Africa, due to mismanaged yearly around . the Mediterranean, but An estimated 2.8 million tonnes of waste is openly dumped in mismanagement rates vary vastly across countries. ALMOST 50% are the two largest sources of open dumping by total volume, dumping This refers to waste that remains OF MISMANAGED WASTE 1.3 million tonnes and 0.8 million tonnes of untreated plastic waste into COMES FROM EGYPT open sites each year.[47] or openly dumped. Almost half at the total waste openly dumped per capita.[48] mismanaged waste is accounted for MONTENEGRO Algeria and Morocco. Countries MISMANAGES due to the high costs of disposal, and to limited port collection also vary on the proportion of their 95% OF ITS WASTE facilities. national waste stream that they mismanage (Figure 5). Those that [49] Despite its high mismanage the highest proportions of their waste streams are EGYPT AND TURKEY the vast majority is simply abandoned at sea. There is currently no ARE THE LARGEST (93 per cent), Albania (73 per cent), [46] and Libya (64 per cent). SOURCES OF OPEN DUMPING page 20 | : How Mediterranean countries can save their sea Figure 5: PERCENTAGE AND TOTAL SIZE OF MISMANAGED WASTE, BY COUNTRY (million tonnes, 2016) BUBBLE SIZE: MT OF WASTE MISMANAGED PER YEAR

100 Syria 90 2.28 mt Egypt Montenegro 80 Albania 70

60 0.43 mt Morocco OVER 50% OF WASTE Libya MISMANAGED YEARLY 50

40 Tunisia

1.25 mt 30 Turkey

20 0.45 mt Algeria

10 Greece Italy 0.50 mt Croatia France % OF WASTE STREAM MISMANAGED Israel 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 TOTAL WASTE GENERATION (MT)

: How Mediterranean countries can save their sea | page 21 IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES LOW QUALITY LANDFILLS DO NOT MEET PLASTIC WASTE SANITARY STANDARDS = LOW RECYLCING

Mediterranean countries recycled 3.9 million tonnes of waste in 2016, but recycling rates vary across the region. meet required sanitary standards. Italy has the leading recycling industry in the region by size. France is a Despite calls to reduce the proportion of waste being close second, followed by Spain (Figure 6).[53] A number of countries in the management in all Mediterranean countries except waste streams. Across all Mediterranean countries, only 17 per cent of France, the Principality of Monaco, and Slovenia, [50] In several [54] Recycling is hindered by a limited supply of high-quality . establishes that sites constructed before 2001 are considered uncontrolled, due to the lower minimum Plastic recyclers often face unreliable supplies of good quality separated standards applied at the time. In Tunisia, however, substances means that the plastic waste cannot be recycled for health, safety, or quality control reasons,[55] and thus must be discarded. Collecting and sorting waste for recycling is a time-consuming and labor-intensive [51] process, due to high levels of mixed and contaminated plastic waste in [52] There unsorted waste streams. Collecting and sorting constitute on average 40 per cent of total recycling costs.[56] sites into nature.

page 22 | : How Mediterranean countries can save their sea Figure 6: PERCENTAGE AND TOTAL SIZE OF RECYCLED WASTE, BY COUNTRY (million tonnes, 2016) BUBBLE SIZE: MT OF WASTE RECYCLED PER YEAR

50

45

40

35 0.87 mt Spain

30 30% AVERAGE EUROPE Slovenia 25 Israel Italy 1.02 mt 20 0.99 mt France Very low recycling rates, but overall low 15 waste generation Montenegro Large waste producers 10 with very low recycling rates Greece Algeria Albania 5 Morocco Egypt Turkey

% OF WASTE STREAM RECYCLED Tunisia Syria 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 TOTAL WASTE GENERATION (MT)

: How Mediterranean countries can save their sea | page 23 © GEORGINA GOODWIN / SHOOT THE EARTH / WWF-UK The Chinese reform of quality regulations for imported the global balance of trade in plastic waste. toward countries with lesser restrictions than . the top ten global waste importers.[57] Imported plastic is higher quality than domestically generated plastic waste, due to more is occupied by imported waste coming from the United Kingdom, Belgium and Germany. Therefore, only 6 per cent of domestic plastic waste is recycled through these facilities.[58]

In addition, many of the countries accepting larger TURKEY volumes of imported waste, like Turkey and Morocco, HAS BECOME . ONE OF THE TOP 10 of imports. This means that plastics collected and exported GLOBAL WASTE IMPORTERS incinerators or open dumps.[59]

page 24 | : How Mediterranean countries can save their sea 5. PLASTIC POLLUTION A CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR PLASTIC HAS YET TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE REGION, AS SECONDARY MARKETS FOR RECYCLED MATERIALS REMAIN UNPROFITABLE.

and unable to scale, hindering the development of a proper circular economy system. Losses result from mixed plastics entering the same recycling process, the industry is still far away from achieving this goal given the average [63] contamination from substances they held.[60] costs are estimated to be €924 per tonne to recycle plastic, which is almost half the material currently collected for recycling is lost during the recycling process.[61] material, €540 per tonne.[64] This data is not publicly available for all Mediterranean countries and territories, but similar results could using best available recycling technologies.[62] Most materials created from secondary plastic are of inferior quality to virgin plastic, and therefore trade for a lower SECONDARY PLASTIC MATERIALS price. Operating costs for recycling ventures remain prohibitively high due to waste collection and separation waste collected costs, expensive technology, and a for recycling limited supply of recyclable plastic. ALMOST HALF OF THE MATERIAL COLLECTED FOR RECYCLING Finally, while some regulations are IS LOST IN THE PROCESS AND NOT RECYCLED

: How Mediterranean countries can save their sea | page 25 MARITIME INDUSTRY 3.NATIONAL POLICY RESPONSES TO PLASTICS: GOOD PRACTICES AND KEY GAPS

Current plastic pollution levels are caused by several system National governments possess the mechanisms to create systemic failures across the plastic value chain. solutions to end plastic pollution.

Figure 7: OVERVIEW OF POLICY INTERVENTIONS NEEDED ACROSS THE VALUE CHAIN PLASTIC PLASTIC WASTE WASTE SECONDARY PRODUCTION USAGE COLLECTION TREATMENT MARKETS

Limited Limited for the true driven in some countries. lead to open in the recycling sector, cost of plastic. by single-use items. dumping or use Low rates of No incentives for Seasonal waste increases for plastic Limited supply of . due to . waste. Low . as inputs. SYSTEM FAILURES

Implement new EPR Implement Increase local capacity Urgently eliminate Support measures to cover full , including to ensure . . . . of recycling. Use national policies to go Implement beyond through higher by and standardise plastic , e.g. bans for plastic waste, to provide . for recycled materials used. on microplastics. reliable quality inputs plastic. Set for recycling. . POLICY BEST PRACTIES

page 26 | : How Mediterranean countries can save their sea 1. € EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY (EPR) CAN MAKE PRODUCERS RESPONSIBLE FOR PLASTIC’S WHOLE LIFECYCLE IMPACT.

EPR contribution fees can be used to can ensure that manufacturers bear the full incentivize upstream innovation. cost of waste management. have introduced new eco-modulated fee structures set environmental contributions for the materials to focus on recyclability and eco-design.[66] These fee produced. However, across the region, these schemes structures reward more recyclable products, based vary substantially on the categories of plastic waste on features such as: clear labelling, easily separable covered, their environmental contribution levels, and their monitoring systems. For example, contributions for secondary materials. Penalties are applied on levels vary from as little as €66 per tonne in Greece, to over €222 per tonne in France.[65] Creating regional minimum standards can help improve the performance hinder recycling. These schemes are promising examples of how to encourage industry behavior free riders. schemes to incentivize industries to reduce their plastic consumption overall. REGIONAL STANDARDS FOR EPR SCHEMES EPR SHOULD INCENTIVIZE WOULD IMPROVE PERFORMANCE PLASTIC REDUCTION

: How Mediterranean countries can save their sea | page 27 2. THE EU SINGLE-USE PLASTICS DIRECTIVE CAN BE A COMMON MINIMUM STANDARD FOR REDUCED CONSUMPTION.

Mediterranean countries are taking some positive steps in banning single-use plastics, . Some polices have addressed single-use plastic bottles Plastics Directive. and cups and microplastic added to cosmetics and France and Croatia are among the countries that detergents. The directive bans using polystyrene and have already implemented steps toward the directive by banning disposable cutlery, glasses, plates and plastic cotton into tiny fragments, and cause harm to the environment. swabs. Italy is following suit, having Italy and France, for instance, have been pioneering already banned plastic cotton in banning microplastics in exfoliant cosmetics. swabs.[67] While the directive These bans could be expanded even further to cover all could be more ambitious, it will cosmetics, personal care products, soaps and washing provide a strong incentive for detergents. Overall, individual countries should conduct countries within and beyond of the directive, and develop legislation to overcome MORE to reduce single-use plastics. these gaps. SINGLE-USE PLASTIC AND ALL MICROPLASTIC SHOULD BE BANNED

page 28 | : How Mediterranean countries can save their sea Figure 8: OVERVIEW OF PLASTIC BANS ACROSS SELECT MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES

EXAMPLES OF SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BANS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BAGS CUTLERY COTTON BUD STICKS CUPS MICRO BEADS FRA : Ban on the distribution : Bans on cotton swab, cups, glasses and plates (with the exception of compostable cup/ : Ban on the bags, except compostable glasses/compostable plates in domestic and partly bio-sourced materials), straws, introduction of new or bio-sourced bags exfoliating cosmetics stirrers containing microplastics : Minimum bio-sourced content in bags by 2025 ITA : Ban on manufacturing, : Ban on the manufacture : Ban on the sale distribution and import and sale of cotton swabs with of all exfoliating of non-biodegradable bags or detergent cosmetics containing microplastics : Ban on ultra-light plastic bags for fresh produce CRO : Small customary levy : The Parliament voted to ban single-use plastic cutlery, cotton buds, straws, stirrers, and fee for distributors plastic bags of $1,500/T of bags GRE : Customer levy of €0.04 on plastic bags, increased to €0.09 in 2019 TUR : 0.25 TL fee on plastic bags to reduce per capita use from 440 to 90 bags by 2025 TUN : Ban on the sale of plastic bags MAR : Ban on the production, sale and use of non-biodegradable plastic bags

: How Mediterranean countries can save their sea | page 29 3. REACHING 100 PER CENT COLLECTION AND IMPLEMENTING SEPARATE WASTE STREAMS REQUIRES ADDITIONAL LOCAL CAPACITY AND CITIZEN EDUCATION.

The European Commission (EC) is considering method to increase the quality of plastic waste, new standards to improve the safe waste but not all Mediterranean countries have . adopted this process. Italy and Croatia are among the few Mediterranean countries collecting waste through several to incentivize bringing retrieved nets ashore. Italy has being: paper, plastic, glass and metal. Separate waste collection to invest in specialized waste management facilities and methods to reduce the cost of sorting and to improve and to lead open-sea retrieval operations. The directive secondary plastic. When system was introduced in Italy, the percentage of SEPARATE increased more than four WASTE COLLECTION per cent per year between PRODUCERS CAN INCREASE QUALITY 2005 and 2015, to over MUST COVER THE COST OF RECYCLED WASTE 44 per cent in 2016.[68] OF FISHING GEAR WASTE

page 30 | : How Mediterranean countries can save their sea 4. IMPROVING WASTE MANAGEMENT CAPACITY WILL DECREASE LEAKAGE.

Building up waste management capacity is the top priority In the northern Mediterranean, countries have started taking of most southern Mediterranean countries. . than recycling plants. In Tunisia, there are currently only ten operating [69] The national solid by 2020.[71] represent an important step against waste mismanagement, they should management option, in order to achieve these targets. However, several not divert the attention to the development of new much needed recycling countries have yet to implement these laws. In 2014, Greece and Croatia facilities. to date.[72] municipalities and citizens that would have to bear the cost. These taxes countries identify, close, and rehabilitate open dumpsites. hence need to be accompanied by growing investment in alternative waste management facilities. million for the failure to close 40 dumpsites in its southern regions, and MORE CONTROLS [70] AND SANCTIONS IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY investments were made on new facilities, and satellite imagery and drone TO END ILLEGAL TO REDUCE technology is being used to identify dumping sites for . DUMP SITES LANDFILLING

: How Mediterranean countries can save their sea | page 31 Figure 8: OVERVIEW OF PLASTIC BANS ACROSS SELECT MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES

CURRENT LANDFILLING TARGET LANDFILLING LANDFILL TAX (% of waste) (% of waste by 2030)

FRA 32€/t in authorized sites % <%

ITA 5.2€/t - 25.82€/t depending on the region % <%

A fee is encouraged by the waste management CRO plan for 2017-2022, but not applied yet % <%

In 2014, a fee of 35€/t, increasing by 5€/t yearly to 60€, was announced but not enforced. The circular % % GRE economy law announced a new 10€/t tax in 2019, (by 2020) to be implemented

% TUR n/a +% open dumping

% TUN n/a +% open dumping

% n/a MAR +44% open dumping

page 32 | : How Mediterranean countries can save their sea 5. € TO BECOME PROFITABLE, RECYCLING NEEDS TO BE PROMOTED ACROSS THE VALUE CHAIN, FROM CREATING RECYCLABLE PRODUCTS, TO ENSURING SEPARATE COLLECTION, AND INCENTIVISING MARKET DEMAND.

The economic value of recycling is driven Generating a stable demand for secondary/ by innovation across the value chain, recycled plastic materials is crucial to create not only within waste management. a circular economy system. A number of requirements are emerging around the inclusion of secondary materials in certain types of lifecycle. Plastic products need to be designed to maximize recyclability from the outset. Waste collection instance, calls for the integration of 25 per cent recycled systems need to generate a steady supply of high-quality are required to reduce the amount of value currently lost be far higher. Governments can also enforce a minimum during the recycling process, so that secondary products volume of secondary material in public procurement, can replace primary materials one-to-one. Governments as part of green procurement schemes. and multilateral institutions can support this process Additionally, governments have started of innovation by developing grant schemes or investment facilities for research and development higher volumes of secondary material in these areas, as has already been done in a number of environmental sectors such as carbon reduction. secondary plastic in products. INNOVATION FUNDS MIN 25% OF RECYCLED PET CAN GENERATE INVESTENT IN INNOVATION TARGET SHOULD BE MUCH HIGHER

: How Mediterranean countries can save their sea | page 33 © ISTOCK / ANDRESR

Across the region, recycling targets can be made more ambitious. by 2030. Recycling front-runners of the region, Italy, France and Spain, can set higher targets, to parallel (currently at 50 per cent) and the United Kingdom (currently at 46 per cent).[73] Italy, for example should aim represents 70-80 per cent of all plastic waste generated, it only accounts for around 40 per cent of total plastic produced.[74] means that about 60 per cent of plastic goods produced will never be recycled. Innovation in mechanical and chemical recycling will be necessary to ensure that construction, transportation, electronics and more, can be recycled and generate additional value. Increasing recycling rates also requires eliminating the use of disruptive elements, such as plastic additives and certain resins.

BY 2030 ITALY SHOULD RECYCLE 80% OF ITS PLASTIC PACKAGING

page 34 | : How Mediterranean countries can save their sea 4. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY MAKERS ALL MED COUNTRIES MUST Regional interventions by all Mediterranean governments can create collective responsibility SUPPORT A LEGALLY BINDING for improving the plastic lifecycle, such as: TREATY TO NO LEAKAGE • CREATING A BINDING COMMITMENT TO STOP ALL PLASTIC LEAKAGE INTO THE SEA BY 2030 IN NATURE BY 2030 pollution is a collective responsibility for all countries around the Mediterranean Sea. While each Across the value chain, is needed in order to create represents the regional platform for this commitment amongst the contracting nations. a path to no plastic in nature. Stopping plastic pollution requires a system that prioritizes reducing • DEVELOPING COMMON POLICY MEASURES TO IMPROVE THE PLASTIC INDUSTRY’S plastic consumption, improving reuse of plastic products, and RESPONSIBILITY ACROSS THE WHOLE PLASTIC SYSTEM increasing recycling of plastic waste. To achieve these priorities, a regional accountability uneven results across the Mediterranean. Common, robust laws and commercial schemes could be mechanism should be created through a legally binding Measures must ensure that the cost of plastic waste management and recycling is fully internalized agreement. This agreement into the plastic sector. should commit to protect the Mediterranean from plastic pollution. • ENCOURAGING COLLABORATION AMONG MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES BY SHARING PLASTIC LIFECYCLE BEST PRACTICES AND INNOVATION and piloting innovations in policy and technology. Countries are testing the best ways to reduce waste generation and future growth, such as micro-plastic bans in Italy and France, pay-as-you-throw about a circular Mediterranean economy.

: How Mediterranean countries can save their sea | page 35 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EACH MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRY EACH MED COUNTRY SHOULD National governments play a key role to ensure that all actors in the plastic system are held SET TARGETS TO 100% PLASTIC accountable to end plastic pollution. These should include: REUSE & RECYCLING = • ELIMINATING WASTE MISMANAGEMENT IN EVERY MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRY BY REACHING 100 PERCENT WASTE COLLECTION RATES AND ERADICATING PLASTIC WASTE DUMPING, All Mediterranean governments LITTERING AND UNCONTROLLED LANDFILLING incentivize reduction of plastics Collaboration between the Mediterranean countries could help improve waste management. production, increased reuse and to expedite the development of waste management capacity, governance and regulation, as well as immediate policy priorities may • BANNING PROBLEMATIC SINGLE-USE PLASTICS TO REDUCE CONSUMPTION AND TO ENCOURAGE ACTORS TO DESIGN PRODUCTS FOR REUSE into sea. All countries need to focus on transitioning away from plastic products with the shortest lifespan, as these plastics are the main drivers of consumption and waste generation. The phase-out of single- use plastic can include bans of single-use products, as seen in many countries. These bans must have including incentivizing reuse business models, recycling and sustainable alternatives.

page 36 | : How Mediterranean countries can save their sea • CHANGING CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR BY PROVIDING ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND ALTERNATIVES TO PLASTIC, AND SUPPORTING REDUCED USE OF UNNECESSARY PLASTICS incentives should support these initiatives and maximize opportunities to scale-up commercially viable alternatives. Additionally, policy, regulation and education programs should be put in place to help consumers create cleaner, and separated plastic waste to facilitate increase of recycling capacity.

• SCALING-UP CAPACITY TO RECYCLE 100 PER CENT OF PLASTIC WASTE IN ALL MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES Governments could incentivize the economics of recycling in several ways, including driving

: How Mediterranean countries can save their sea | page 37 © SHUTTERSTOCK / KRZYSZTOF BARGIEL / WWF

700 MARINE SPECIES THREATENED BY PLASTIC IN THE WORLD

page 38 | : How Mediterranean countries can save their sea REFERENCES

[1] PlasticsEurope, Conversio Market & [9] S. Liubartsevaa et al, 2018: “Tracking [21] [32] Takehama S (1990) Estimation of damages Strategy GmbH, and myCEPPI, “Plastics plastics in the Mediterranean: 2D The impact of debris on marine life. Mar. – the Facts 2017: An Analysis of European Lagrangian model” Pollution Bulletin., 92(1-2), 170-179. based on insurance statistics. In: Shomura Plastics Production, Demand and Waste RS. Godfrey hlL (eds) Proceedings of the [10] Ibid [22] Dias, B. F. de S., 2016, “: Data” (Brussels: PlasticsEurope’s Market Second International Conference on Marine Understanding, Preventing and Mitigating Research and Statistics Group, 2018). [11] Kaza et al., “What a Waste 2.0: A Global Debris. Honolulu, Hawaii, April 2-7, 1989. Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to US Dept of Commerce, NOAATM-NMFS- [2] 76 kgs of plastic goods per person and Coastal Biodiversity.” determined using total production for [23] UNEP, “Marine Plastic Debris and region divided by total 2016 population of [12] S. Liubartsevaa et al, 2018: “Tracking [33] Ibid. Microplastics.” the Mediterranean region published by the plastics in the Mediterranean: 2D [34] CIEL, “Fuelling Plastics: Fossils, Plastics & World Bank. The 2016 plastic production Lagrangian model” [24] WWF, 2017, “Reviving the economy of the Petrochemical Feedstocks” (Washington, data was sourced from the National Plastic Mediterranean Sea” (link) [13] DC: Centre for International Environmental the Mediterranean Sea.” (link) [25] F Thevenon, C Caroll, and J Sousa, “Plastic Law, September 21, 2017). or from PlasticsEurope. Global Benchmark Debris in the Oceans: The Characterization sourced from WWF, Solving plastic pollution [14] [35] CIEL, “Fueling Plastics: Fossils, Plastics & of Marine Plastics and Their Environmental through accountability, 2019. (link) inputs from land into the ocean.” Petrochemical Feedstocks” (Washington, Impacts” (Switzerland: International Union DC: Center for International Environmental [3] Jenna R. Jambeck et al., “Plastic Waste [15] Ibid. for Conservation of Nature, 2014), https:// Law, September 21, 2017). Inputs from Land into the Ocean,” Science [16] S. Liubartsevaa et al., 2018: “Tracking link) documents/2014-067.pdf. [36] plastics in the Mediterranean: 2D Energy Use and Carbon Emissions [4] Ibid. Lagrangian model.” [26] European Commission 2018: “Blue Reduction in the Chemicals Sector: A UK Economy Report.” [5] Roland Geyer, Jenna R. Jambeck, and Kara [17] Ibid. Perspective.” Lavender, Law, Production, Use, and Fate of [27] McIlgorm et al., 2011,“The economic cost [18] Ibid. [37] Institute for European Environmental Policy, All Plastics EverMade. 2017. and control of marine debris damage in the “EPR in the EU Plastics Strategy and the [19] WWF, Solving plastic pollution through link) [6] Kaza et al., “What a Waste 2.0: A Global Circular Economy,” 2017. accountability, 2019. (link) Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to [28] Kaza et al., “What a Waste 2.0 : A Global [38] WWF, 2019, “Solving plastic pollution [20] John D Meeker, Sheela Satyanarayana, Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to through accountability.” (link) and Shanna H Swan, “Phthalates and Other [7] De Souza Machado et al. Microplastics Additives in Plastics: Human Exposure and [39] Bans on the distribution of free single use as an Emerging Threat to Terrestrial [29] Ibid. Associated Health Outcomes,” Philosophical plastic bans have now been implemented Ecosystems. 2018 (link) Transactions of the Royal Society B: [30] Ibid. across both countries to reduce [8] Jenna R. Jambeck et al., “Plastic Waste consumption. Source: Turkish Ministry for [31] Patrick ten Brink et al., 2016, “Plastics Inputs from Land into the Ocean,” Science the Environment. Marine Litter and the Circular Economy,” 347link) rstb.2008.0268.

: How Mediterranean countries can save their sea | page 39 [40] [51] European Environmental Agency, 2014, [65] Packaging Recovery Organisation Europe, FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION “Horizon 2020: Mediterranean Report Annex “Producer Responsibility in Action.” ON PLASTIC POLLUTION IN THE [41] Coll M. et al., 2010, “The Biodiversity of 6: Tunisia.” MEDITERRANEAN, SEE ALSO Institute for European Environmental Policy, [66] WWF MMI REPORT: ALESSI , ET AL. e11842. Sweepnet, 2014, “Report on the Solid Waste 2017, “EPR in the EU Plastics Strategy and [52] 2018 “OUT OF THE PLASTIC TRAP: Management in MOROCCO.” the Circular Economy,” . [42] Galgani F. et al.. 2014. In: CIESM 2014. SAVING THE MEDITERRANEAN FROM Marine litter in the Mediterranean and Black [53] PlasticsEurope, “Plastics: The Facts 2018: [67] UN Environment Programme, “Legal Limits PLASTIC POLLUTION” (link) Seas. CIESM Workshop Monograph n° 46 An analysis of European plastics production, on Single-Use Plastics and Microplastics: [F. Briand, ed.], 180 p., CIESM Publisher, demand and waste data.” A Global Review of National Laws and Monaco. Regulations.” [54] PlasticsEurope, “Plastics: The Facts 2018: [43] Sweepnet, 2014, “Report on the Solid Waste An analysis of European plastics production, [68] COREPLA, 2018, “Il futuro del riciclo della Management in TUNISIA.” demand and waste data.” plastica nella circular economy.”

[44] [55] MESAB, “The Circular Economy - a [69] Sweepnet, 2014, “Report on the Solid Waste Powerful Force for Climate Mitigation.” Management in MOROCCO and TUNISIA.” [45] Kaza et al., “What a Waste 2.0 : A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to [56] MESAB, “The Circular Economy - a [70] European court of Justice database. Powerful Force for Climate Mitigation.” [71] Liogkas, (2017), “Plan for addressing waste [46] Kaza et al., “What a Waste 2.0 : A Global [57] UN COMTRADE Database, 2018. management of the Hellenic Republic”. Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to derived from 2020 National Waste [58] OECD, 2019: “Environmental Performance Management plan of Greece Reviews: Turkey 2019.” [47] Kaza et al., “What a Waste 2.0 : A Global [72] [59] Blood et al., “Why the World’s Recycling Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to System Stopped Working.” [73] PlasticsEurope, “Plastics: The Facts 2018: An analysis of European plastics production, [60] MESAB, “The Circular Economy - a [48] Kaza et al., “What a Waste 2.0 : A Global demand and waste data.” Powerful Force for Climate Mitigation.” Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to [74] PlasticsEurope, “Plastics: The Facts 2018: [61] Ibid An analysis of European plastics production, [49] S. Liubartsevaa et al, 2018: “Tracking [62] Ibid demand and waste data.” plastics in the Mediterranean: 2D [63] European PET Bottle Platform, 2017, “How Lagrangian model.” to keep a sustainable PET recycling industry [50] PlasticsEurope, “Plastics: The Facts 2018: in Europe” An analysis of European plastics production, [64] MESAB, “The Circular Economy - a demand and waste data.” Powerful Force for Climate Mitigation.”

page 40 | : How Mediterranean countries can save their sea ANNEX I - THE PLASTICS VALUE CHAIN AND STAKEHOLDERS

PLASTIC PLASTIC WASTE WASTE SECONDARY PRODUCTION USAGE COLLECTION TREATMENT MARKETS

Manufacturing of virgin Use of plastic from Recovering disposed Treatment of sorted Reuse of plastic within plastic from fossil fuel conversion of material plastic waste from plastic waste through an economy after chemicals by a process end-users and sorting various methods reprocessing waste into of polymerization or until disposal waste into various a secondary material polycondensation of product as waste streams for treatment incineration, recycling DESCRIPTION by the end-user and dumping

Petrochemical Plastic converters [1] Local and national Plastic recyclers companies authorities Local or national Plastic converters Oil & gas companies (individual, authorities Regular bodies institutional, Waste management Plastic producers and commercial) companies Waste management Plastic converters companies

KEYSTAKES HOLDERS Plastic converters

[1] Manufacturers of plastic products in all plastic markets (e.g. packaging, building and construction, transport) that with other non-plastic materials during the conversion process

: How Mediterranean countries can save their sea | page 41 ANNEX II - GLOSSARY

TERMS the national legislation in force. Open dump Illegal land disposal sites at which solid are disposed of in a manner that does not protect the and scavengers. Controlled waste treatment (incineration) and recycling. Secondary material production The total amount of secondary plastic product extracted from the plastic recycling process, averaging at 55% of the material inputted for recycling. Recycling during reprocessing into a secondary material. These material losses result from collected plastic considered as not recyclable due to additives preventing recycling or food contamination, etc. Mismanaged waste Recovered mismanaged waste operations, or any other method. Bio-degradable

2) and methane (CH4) and biomass. Represents all economic activities related to oceans, seas or coastal areas. It covers established sectors such as

page 42 | : How Mediterranean countries can save their sea ANNEX III - PLASTIC WASTE SYSTEM ACTIVITIES

SECTION METRIC METHODOLOGY Plastic produced many products that are imported and exported and limited public data exists separating these goods into their raw materials used. This plastic goods production data by country is not adjusted for international trade (import and export) of these products. If national plastic goods data unavailable, calculated based on the ratio of global plastic production to plastic waste for 2016 in the WWF global plastics report (78%).

Waste Generation Collected national-level data on total plastic waste generation per annum, or total waste MSW waste and Management generation and percent composition of plastic within MSW. Also collect national-level data on plastic

Mismanaged waste PLASTIC LIFECYCLE Waste recovered or Calculated using the proxy of 90% of mismanaged waste ending up in nature, based on the study completed (MT) operations, etc.

the Mediterranean Group, 2015. generated by regions with coastlines on the Mediterranean.

Collected data on sea-based sources and major rivers from S. Liubartsevaa et al, 2018. Where data is missing source (sea-based, rivers, coastal)

: How Mediterranean countries can save their sea | page 43 SECTION METRIC METHODOLOGY in oil equivalent (M, barrels)

Average age of Calculated based on national data collected on the production of plastic per industry, and the average lifetime plastic life (years) of plastic goods in each industry, as found in peer-reviewed research completed by Roland Geyer et al, “Production, Use, and Fate of All Plastics Ever Made”, 2017

CO2 emissions Calculated based on the average CO2 emissions caused by plastic production, incineration and recycling, (MT) as reported by SITRA, 2018: “The Circular Economy a Powerful Force for Climate Mitigation”. PLASTIC Annual coastline IMPACT plastic pollution and sea-surface.

Calculated based on the methodology used in McIlgorm et al, 2011 to estimate the cost of plastic pollution to pollution (M, €)

Cost of waste Calculated based on the proportion of waste generation caused by tourists, which was calculated based on generated by tourists (M, €) of $50-100/T of waste in an advanced system.

page 44 | : How Mediterranean countries can save their sea ANNEX IV - PLASTIC WASTE SYSTEM ACTIVITIES CAUSING CONTROLLED AND MISMANAGED WASTE

MANAGEMENT CATEGORY PROCESS DESCRIPTION Managed disposal of waste on land with little or no pre-treatment. CONTROLLED Site meets requirements for gas monitoring, site compacting and land LANDFILL covering CONTROLLED INDUSTRIAL Combustion of plastic in a controlled and closed industrial process WASTE with exhaust gases adhering to environmental emission regulations TREATMENT INCINERATION

Plastic collected from the waste stream and reprocessed into a RECYCLING [1] PLASTIC secondary material WASTE Unrecovered plastic from the end-user via a waste collection system UNCOLLECTED and does not enter a formal waste treatment process WASTE

MISMANAGED UNCONTROLLED WASTE OR UNSPECIFIED LANDFILL [2] Discarded plastic directly on land, freshwater or marine areas. OPEN DUMPING Alternatively, littering or any form of unregulated plastic waste management such as open burning

[1] Not accounting for plastic losses during the recovery process [2]

: How Mediterranean countries can save their sea | page 45 10% OF PLASTIC FLOOD THE • STOP are produced in the Med region 0.57 million tonnes of plastic enters Mediterranean waters

28% of plastic waste remains uncollected €641 mill/year are lost to plastic pollution

Why we are here 100%

To stop the degration of the planet’s natural environment and of plastic waste in the Med WWFMMI.ORG to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. should be collected wwfmmi.org

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