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Plastic

Greenpeace activists absblock ship carrying fuel to Ineos petrochemical plan - while Ineos blocks the global plastics treaty.

Plastics: from pollution to solution

Plastic pollution is out of control and environmental groups have been pushing to secure a global agreement to tackle it. Fossil fuel lobbyists again blocked a full treaty that would cut plastic production. But the fight for a strong treaty and just transition to a reuse-based future goes on.

SELCHP chimney and plant buildings, lorry outside.

Burning plastic at SELCHP incinerator, Deptford - what's coming out of the flue?

The facility has been burning household waste since 1993, and much of that waste is plastics. But concerns about the chemicals in plastics, and the dangers of air pollution, have grown. Wales offers a vision of a different way to manage waste, with some councils recycling over 70% of waste.

Paul de Zylva taking photo of vape litter on the pavement with vapes spelling out "Ban 1st June"

Disposable vapes - is the ban working?

Mike Keogh and Paul de Zylva from Quaggy Waterways Action Group (QWAG) spent a year cleaning up discarded vapes across Lewisham. Mike argues that the environmental damage caused by vapes is much worse than the old non-biodegradable cigarette butt. Is the new ban working?

Collage of shocked woman surrounded by everyday plastic items

What are the health impacts of plastic?

This article by Yale Climate Connections is published here as part of the global journalism collaboration Covering Climate Now.

The SELCHP chimney and plant

Why is the UK's 8th largest incinerator sited in the heart of Deptford?

The SELCHP plant is located in a densely populated and deprived area. It burns 360,000 tonnes of household waste per year. The plant was commissioned in 1987, while campaigners fought against the rise in rubbish dumps and scrap metal yards across Deptford.