Kuwait City: The Kuwait Environment Protection Society (KEPS) has warned that plastic pollution has become one of the world’s most serious environmental challenges, threatening marine ecosystems, biodiversity, food security and human health.
Speaking ahead of International Plastic Bag Free Day observed on July 3, KEPS board member Ahmed Murad stressed the urgent need to reduce plastic consumption and improve waste management practices.
According to Murad, recent scientific studies estimate that around 11 million metric tonnes of plastic waste enter the world’s oceans every year, while approximately 190 million metric tonnes of plastic have already accumulated in marine environments.
He said plastic pollution not only harms marine life and disrupts ocean ecosystems but also causes billions of dollars in economic losses annually, particularly affecting coastal economies.
Murad noted that around 80 per cent of marine pollution originates on land, mainly due to improper waste disposal, littering and plastic waste being washed into waterways by rain. The remaining 20 per cent comes from marine-based activities such as fishing and shipping.
He urged individuals to reduce their daily use of plastic, dispose of waste responsibly and support stronger waste management systems, describing improved land-based waste disposal as one of the most effective ways to reduce marine pollution.
