Plastics and Plastic Wastes

Global Concern

Plastic pollution and marine litter have emerged as pressing environmental challenges of our time. With the relentless production and disposal of plastic materials, our planet has become a dumping ground for an alarming array of plastic debris. From micro-plastics, to larger plastic items such as plastic bottles, single use plastic bags and other single use plastic items, indiscriminate disposal of these items
pose a threat to our land and marine environment.

Plastic pollution knows no geographical barriers, thus, addressing the issue of plastic pollution and marine litter, has become an urgent global imperative, demanding concerted efforts from individuals, communities, and governments worldwide. 

The long residence time of plastics in the environment means that once introduced, they endure for extended periods, contributing to a cumulative and pervasive issue. Bioaccumulation of microplastics and nano-plastics has far-reaching consequences, as these particles enter and accumulate in both terrestrial and aquatic food webs. 

This implicates plastic pollution as a critical environmental challenge with widespread implications for ecosystems, biodiversity, and potentially human health. The acknowledgment of bioaccumulation underscores the interconnectedness of environmental systems and the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of plastic pollution on the planet's ecosystems.

Quick Facts

• The worldwide production of plastics reached 413.8 million metric tons in 2023 (Statista 2025).

• It is projected that the cumulative global plastic production would reach over 34 billion metric tonnes by 2050 (Statista 2021).

• Between 2020 and 2050, global municipal solid waste generation per year is projected to grow from 2.1 billion tonnes to 3.8 billion tonnes due to economic growth and unsustainable consumption and production patterns (UNEP, 2024). 

• The fate of global plastic waste was estimated as follows: 22% mismanaged and uncollected, 49% landfilled, 19% incinerated and 9% recycled (OECD, 2019).

• Every year 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste leaks into aquatic ecosystems, polluting lakes, rivers and seas (UNEP, 2021). 

• Plastics are the largest, most harmful and persistent fraction of marine litter, accounting for at least 85 per cent of total marine waste and has been estimated to be around 75-199 million tonnes (UNEP 2021). 

• Microplastics have been found in more than 100 aquatic species, including fish, shrimp and mussels destined for our plates (National Geographic, 2025).

• Studies indicate that we consume around 5g of microplastic per week, the equivalent of a credit card (WWF, 2019).

• Microplastics have even been found within our lungs, livers, spleens, and kidneys, and one study recently found microplastics in the placentas of new-born babies (UNEP, 2021).

Plastic Pollution Fact Sheets (Global)

Learn More About Plastic Pollution

• DISPOSABLE PLASTICS FACTS
• SINGLE USE PLASTICS FACTS
• OCEAN PLASTICS FACTS
• MICROPLASTICS AND DRINKING WATER FACTS
• THE PLASTICS THREAT TO HUMAN HEALTH FACTS

Environmental Impacts of Plastic Waste

Plastic waste has severe environmental impacts, contributing to a range of interconnected problems that affect ecosystems and human well-being. These include:

Adverse Impact on Marine Life: Improper disposal of plastic waste often leads to marine pollution. Marine animals, such as sea turtles, seabirds, and fish, can ingest or become entangled in plastic debris, causing injuries, suffocation, and death. Plastic pollution disrupts marine ecosystems and biodiversity.

Terrestrial Animal Harm: Land-based animals can also be negatively affected by plastic waste. Ingestion or entanglement in plastic poses risks to wildlife, affecting their health and potentially causing population declines. Terrestrial mammals, birds, and insects may suffer from the presence of plastic in their habitats.

Bioaccumulation of Microplastics: Over time, larger plastic items break down into microplastics, which enter the food web. Microplastics can accumulate in aquatic and terrestrial organisms, leading to bioaccumulation as they move up the food chain. This poses risks to both aquatic and land-based species, including humans who consume contaminated seafood.

Clogging of Drains and Waterways: Improperly disposed plastic waste can clog drains and waterways, leading to flooding and water pollution. Blocked water systems exacerbate the impact of heavy rains, causing urban flooding and damaging infrastructure.

Proliferation of Vector-Borne Diseases: Plastic waste, particularly items that can collect stagnant water (e.g., discarded containers), provides breeding grounds for disease-carrying vectors like mosquitoes. This can contribute to the spread of vector-borne diseases, including malaria and dengue fever.

Unsightly Environmental Landscape: Improperly managed plastic waste contributes to an unsightly and degraded environmental landscape. Accumulation of plastic litter in public spaces, natural areas, and oceans diminishes the aesthetic value of landscapes and harms tourism.

Depletion of Non-Renewable Resources: The production of plastic involves the extraction and processing of non-renewable fossil fuels. Plastic waste exacerbates resource depletion, contributing to environmental degradation associated with fossil fuel extraction.

Climate Change Impacts: The life cycle of plastics, from production to disposal, contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Incineration of plastic waste releases pollutants and contributes to climate change, impacting air quality and exacerbating global warming.

Microplastics in Soil: Microplastics generated from the degradation of larger plastic items can accumulate in soil. This can affect soil health, nutrient cycling, and plant growth, with potential consequences for terrestrial ecosystems.

Chemical Pollution: Plastics often contain additives and chemicals that can leach into the environment, leading to chemical pollution. This can have toxic effects on both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, impacting plant and animal life.

Frias and Nash (2019) defined microplastics as “any synthetic solid particle or polymeric matrix, with regular or irregular shape and with size ranging from  1  µm to 5 mm, of either primary or secondary manufacturing origin, which are insoluble in water”. 

A challenging pathway for a plastic pollution-free island!

In 2023, the import value of plastics and articles thereof into Mauritius amounted to an approximate value of 161 million U.S. dollars. China was one of the main trade partners of Mauritius in terms of plastic imports with a share of nearly 33 percent.

Mauritius, a small island developing state in the Indian Ocean, is not spared from the impacts of plastic pollution. The Government of Mauritius has set an ambitious target to label the island a plastic-pollution free country in view of the serious environmental, economic and social impacts of plastic pollution such as:

• Marine Pollution: Being surrounded by oceans, Mauritius is particularly vulnerable to marine plastic pollution. Plastic waste can wash ashore and impact coastal ecosystems, affecting marine life and disrupting local fisheries. A research conducted in 2018 by the Mauritius Oceanography Institute (MOI 2021) revealed that the concentration of microplastics in offshore waters was nearly ten times greater than in the Mauritian lagoon. This underscores the influence of land-based plastic pollution transported through watercourses to the ocean.

• Tourism Impact: Mauritius rely heavily on tourism, and plastic pollution can negatively impact the aesthetics of beaches and coastal areas, deterring tourists and affecting the tourism industry.

• Clogging of Drains and Waterways: Blocked water systems exacerbate the impact of heavy rains, causing urban flooding and damaging infrastructure.  As witnessed in Mauritius, clogging has contributed to flooding which resulted into considerable economic losses and loss of human lives (viz, March 2008 and March 2013 episodes of flash floods).

• The solid waste management situation in Mauritius is challenging, with the daily generation of approximately 1500 tons of waste and only one sanitary landfill and five transfer stations available for the entire island. Inadequate waste disposal and recycling facilities can lead to the improper disposal of plastic waste, contributing to pollution.

• Limited Recycling Opportunities:  Only a few  plastic recycling facilities are available in Mauritius. This results in a reliance on landfill disposal, exacerbating plastic pollution.  Recycling of post-consumer plastics is still in its embryonic stage.

• Ecosystem Disruption: Plastic pollution can have cascading effects on ecosystems. From coral reefs to mangroves, the presence of plastics can harm biodiversity and the overall health of these sensitive ecosystems.

• Invasive Species Transport: Floating plastics in the ocean can serve as vectors for transporting invasive species to small islands. This can have ecological consequences and impact local flora and fauna.

• Water Contamination: Plastic debris can release harmful chemicals into the water as it degrades, leading to water contamination. This can have implications for both marine and freshwater resources on small islands.

Plastic Waste

In Mauritius, plastic wastes account for more than 75,000 tonnes (14.5 %) of total municipal solid wastes generated annually and are predominantly composed of packaging (plastic bags, plastic bottles and food boxes/packaging). In fact, the percentage of plastic component in municipal waste has gradually increased from 8% in 2000 to 14.5% in 2020. The increase in the percentage of the plastic component in municipal solid wastes has been attributed to the progressive increasing use, and hence disposal, of single-use plastic products.

Percentage of plastics in municipal waste in different SIDS regions.

Single-use plastic waste generated by different countries per capita in 2019

In terms of constituent polymer types, the 2020 plastic waste in Mauritius is approportionated as follows: 

1. high-density polyethylene (HDPE): 3%
2. polyethylene terephthalate (PET): 3.7%
3. low-density polyethylene (LDPE): 7%
4. polystyrene (PS): 0.8%
    

Constituent polymer types in plastic waste

Recycling Plastics

Plastic recycling is still at its infancy stage.

In 2020, only 3000 tonnes of plastic were recycled (SM 2021).  

In 2024, about 158 million units beverage PET bottles were generated in Mauritius while about 35% of the post-consumer beverage PET bottles were collected and exported for recycling.

To boost up the rate of post-consumer PET bottles collection for recycling, which is varying around 30-40% over the past years, a Financial Incentive Scheme was introduced in January 2014 and as at date, Government is providing Rs. 30 per kg as incentive for local PET recycling and Rs 15 per kg PET exported for recycling. 

 

Different polymers recycled in Mauritius

Post-consumer PET collected and exported and the recycling rate

 Measures to combat plastic pollution in Mauritius

There have been numerous measures taken by Government to tackle plastic pollution and marine plastic litter. These include fiscal incentives as well as policy and regulatory instruments such as the promulgation of the:

(15 January 2021) The Environment (Control of Single Use Plastic Products) Regulations 2020; (01 October 2025) Amendment to Regulations

- The manufacture, sale , supply and importation of the following 10 non-biodegradable single use plastic products has been banned:-

• Plastic cutlery (forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks);
• Plastic plate;
• Plastic cup;
• Plastic bowl;
• Plastic tray;
• Plastic straw (including sealed plastic straw forming an integral part of the packaging of another product);
• Plastic beverage stirrer;
• Plastic hinged container;
• Plastic lid for single use plastic products; and
• Receptacles of any shape, with or without lid, used to contain food which is intended for immediate consumption, either on the spot or takeaway and supplied by a food service business

Moratorium on the use of non-biodegradable single-use plastic cups, bowls, and trays for Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP)

Following representations from the private sector regarding the challenges and unpreparedness of the local food industry to shift immediately to biodegradable alternatives, three successive moratoria have been granted from January 2021 to January 2025. These were issued on 6 January 2021, 8 December 2021, and 11 January 2023, respectively, covering specific non-biodegradable single-use plastic products used by the local food industry:

• Plastic cups and plastic bowls used exclusively for packaging food products such as dairy products (yogurt, ice cream, desserts, butter), margarine, and hot-filled packaged products.

• Plastic trays used exclusively for Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) of fresh, cooked, or pre-cooked food products such as meat, burgers, seafood, and cheese.

In view that manufacturers are still facing challenges and will require additional time to adopt appropriate alternatives, Government agreed on 27 December 2024 to exceptionally extend the existing moratorium by another one year up to 14 January 2026, while at the same time set up a Multi-Stakeholder Technical Committee.

(01 March 2021)- The Environment (Banning of Plastic Bags) Regulations 2020; Amendment to Regulations - 01 October 2025

- the manufacture, sale, supply and importation of plastic bags has been banned except for exempt plastic bags and biodegradable or compostable plastic bags.

The type of exempt plastic bags are those designed to be used:

• for the disposal of waste, including quarantine and clinical waste;
• for the purpose of agriculture;
• for medical purposes;
• for sampling or analysis;
• as integral part of the packaging in which goods, materials or products are sealed prior to sale on the local market or for export; and
• Transparent re-sealable bags with security tamper used by a passenger or carried by a passenger on transfer to carry liquids, aerosols or gels at an airport or on board of an aircraft.

(2001)- The Environment Protection (Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottle Permit) Regulations 2001 - To manage post-consumer PET bottles generated by the local beverage industries based on the Extended Producers Responsibility. Under these regulations, local PET bottling beverage companies are regulated by a PET Bottling Permit system issued by the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change. One of the condition under this Permit system, is the requirement to put in place facilities for the maximum collection of post-consumer PET bottles to be recycled. 

Plastic Management Committee

Pursuant to Section 100 of the Environment Act 2024, a Plastic Management Committee was set up in March 2025. The Plastic Management Committee will serve as a platform with an overarching role to coordinate the implementation of polices, strategies and action plan towards a plastic pollution free Mauritius. The Committee comprises Government, Private and Non-Governmental Organizations. 

Road Map for a Plastic-Pollution Free Mauritius
To tackle the complex issue of plastic pollution, Government is working towards the development of a roadmap for a plastic pollution free Mauritius which is one of the recommendations of the Environment Masterplan (2020- 2030). 
 

The objective of the project is to undertake enabling activities to successfully address plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, through:

• development and implementation of policy, legal and collaborative frameworks,
• strengthening of institutional frameworks, and
• strategic planning, through the development of a national source inventory of plastic and a national roadmap to end plastic pollution.

The contract has been awarded to the University of Mauritius on 02 September 2024 for a period of 14 months. A Project Steering Committee as well as a Technical Committee were set up to monitor work progress, as per the Terms of Reference for the project. The roadmap is expected to be ready by October 2025. 

Implementing Sustainable Low and Non-Chemical Development in SIDS (ISLANDS) Indian Ocean Project 

One of the components under the ISLANDS Project, includes a comprehensive supply chain analysis for plastic pellets. The objective of the project is to establish an inventory of plastic pellets flow in Mauritius and provide a detailed understanding of the different sectors, processes and products manufactured from these pellets, to help enhance decision making. 

Grant Thornton has been hired for this consultancy services for a period of 6 months. 

Research and Development for Control of Plastic Pollution
Research and Development for Control of Plastic Pollution
The Ministry of Environment has implemented four (4) research projects in collaboration with the University of Mauritius to the tune of Rs 3 million. These projects started in January 2023 and were completed in April 2024.  The projects are:
a)    Biodegradability testing of biodegradable/compostable plastic materials;
b)    Assessment of biodegradability and composting of Polylactic acid (PLA) bottles and cups;
c)    Monitoring and identifying of microplastics along selected beaches; and
d)    SWOT analysis for the use of local biomass and agro-wastes as alternative materials for the replacement of petroleum-based plastics.
 

Result for the first project has indicated that the tested plastic materials showed a biodegradation rate between 1.4 – 1.8%.  An in depth research study with a broader scope has been recommended on the most appropriate biodegradability standards that could be adopted in the plastic related regulations.

Result for the second project has demonstrated that on a lab-scale basis, the tested PLA bottles and cups have partially biodegraded under landfilling conditions and are biodegradable under controlled composting conditions. Result for the third project has indicated the presence of microplastics along the eastern coast in the form of fragments, film, foam and fibre.  Further research is recommended to determine the possible sources of microplastics (for example, whether from land base or influx by transboundary movement). 

Result for the fourth project has indicated that the biomass for banana fibres, pineapple leaves and coconut midribs are promising alternatives for single use plastic products.
 

International Collaborations to End Plastic Pollution
Mauritius participated in the negotiation process through an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop an International Legally Binding Instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. INC 1 was held in November 2022 in Uruguay, INC 2 in Paris in May/June 2023, INC 3 in Kenya in November 2023, INC 4 in Canada in April 2024 and INC 5 in South Korea in November 2024. INC 5.2 took place in August 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. After discussions, as no consensus was reached, the INC Chair decided to adjourn the session to be resumed at a future date to be announced.

Moreover, Mauritius has joined the following groups, to enable forceful and collective negotiations of an ambitious treaty to end plastic pollution including in the marine environment:
1)    The High Ambition Coalition (HAC);
2)    The Alliance of Small Island State (AOSIS); and
3)    The Africa Group Negotiators (AGN)