Tearfund, the Teddington-based charity that partners with churches in more than 50 of the world's poorest countries to tackle poverty through sustainable development, has today launched its 'Rubbish Campaign' in a bid to secure the best version of a global treaty on plastic pollution.

Humanity currently produces 460 million tonnes of plastic a year, a figure that is set to triple by 2060 without urgent action. Globally, 46 per cent of plastic waste is landfilled, 22 per cent is mismanaged and becomes litter, 17 per cent is incinerated and 15 per cent is collected for recycling, with less than 9 per cent actually recycled after losses.

During 2023 and 2024, nearly 200 governments are meeting to develop the first-ever global treaty on plastic pollution and Tearfund's rubbish campaign is aiming to ensure the treaty produces an effective binding plan that holds big polluters to account, reduces plastic production, supports the vital work of waste pickers, and ends the impacts of plastic pollution on people living in poverty.

The charity is inviting residents to sign up to the petition and increase the pressure on the UK government to play its part in helping to end plastic pollution.

A message from the Teddington-based charity on the campaign page reads: "Dear Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and all those negotiating on the plastics treaty, don't throw away this opportunity!

"The UK Government must ensure this plastics treaty helps end the world's rubbish problem. With people around the world, we're calling for the treaty to address fully the impacts of plastic pollution on those living in poverty."

Tearfund is calling for the treaty to include:

• Reduction: legally binding targets to reduce plastic production and scale up refill solutions
• Recycling: funding for the collection and recycling of everyone's rubbish
• Respect: support for waste pickers, including a just transition
• Response: mechanisms to ensure businesses and governments take action

Residents are able to read more on the petition and sign up HERE.

For more information on Tearfund, the work they carry out and ways you can get involved, visit the link HERE.