Reduction of Marine Plastic Pollution
A resolution to increase the quality of the world’s environment, at the expense of industry.
Category: Environmental
Area of Effect: All Industry
Description: The World Assembly,
Understanding of the severe effect plastic waste has in the environment, especially within the marine environment.
Recognising that microplastic produced through the breakdown of large debris is responsible for a significant percentage of this worldwide oceanic pollution, with serious consequence to marine wildlife and in particular, zooplankton, which constitute a substantial fraction of the oceanic food chain's base.
Aware that microplastic pollution is additionally produced via microplastic manufactured for commercial use, which is used heavily in the cosmetic industry.
Distressed at the discovery of the presence of microplastic in seafood and table salt used for consumption, as well as in wastewater, which pose a serious risk to the health of any living being ingesting it.
Concerned at the continued disposal of plastic waste improperly despite research examining and affirming the effect it has in nature, with widespread corroboration proving the grave consequence on the environment holistically.
Alarmed at the rate of manufacture of plastic worldwide and the projected increase in plastic waste in the future.
Noting that not each member nation is equipped with the adequate infrastructure to deal with the prevention of plastic waste and in particular, the extensive removal of microplastic through wastewater and/or sewage treatment.
Further noting that even with sufficient treatment, microplastic is not completely removed in this process and is released into the environment in effluent.
Hereby,
- Defines, for the purposes of this resolution:
- ”Plastic” as any synthetic or semi-synthetic organic compound based polymer;
- ”Plastic waste” as any plastic (micro, meso, or macro) present in the environment except for:
- Plastic buried at sea due to the extreme risk it may pose to sapient life such as irradiated plastic.
- Plastic posing an immediate threat to sapient life such as the jettisoning of cargo.
- Plastic incorporated into any object actively used at sea such as in an environmental probe or buoy.
- “Microplastic” as a particle of plastic less than 5mm in diameter;
- “Personal care product” as any product produced for personal hygiene and/or beautification, including, but not limited to, facial cleanser, exfoliator, toothpaste, soap and shampoo;
- “Cosmetic microplastic” as any microplastic present in or intended for use in a personal care product, excluding the materials used in the manufacture of its packaging.
- Forbids the disposal of plastic in any sea, ocean, lake, river or waterway for any reason excluding those outlined under article 1-b.
- Enforces the use of, where technologically and financially feasible, the use of biodegradable plastic in place of non-biodegradable plastic in packaging and bottling.
- Prohibits the manufacture, import, wholesale, sale and distribution of cosmetic microplastic.
- Prohibits the production, import, wholesale, sale and distribution of any personal care product containing cosmetic microplastic.
- Mandates the evidenced disclosure of the usage of any manufactured microplastic to avoid the circumventing of article 5.
- Establishes the World Assembly Plastic Control Authority (WAPCA) as a regulatory body to:
- fund and/or undertake the implementation of proper infrastructure to deal with the cleanup of plastic waste and microplastic, such as up to date wastewater treatment technology, in any member nation incapable of doing so; and,
- offer consultation on the cleanup of plastic waste; and,
- assist in the development of any national plastic cleanup initiative; and,
- ensure the enforcement and upholding of the prohibition enacted on cosmetic microplastic and personal care products containing cosmetic microplastic; and,
- monitor the production of non-cosmetic microplastic.
- Encourages the development of environmentally friendlier, biodegradable alternatives to currently used plastic.
OoC: This is my first GA resolution proposal/draft so any amendment, criticism or overall feedback is welcomed and encouraged. Coincidentally, it is Earth Day.