The analysis conducted for No Time to Waste: Tackling the Plastic Pollution Crisis Before it’s Too Late was based on published data, academic research and expert opinion for three links between waste and health: air pollution from burnt waste, diarrhoeal disease caused by dumped waste, and mosquito-borne disease caused by dumped waste. This indicated that between 400,000 and 1 million people die each year because of diseases caused by mismanaged waste. One million people a year is approximately one every 30 seconds. The full methodology is described in an annex to the report.

Other key facts in the report:

• Every second a double-decker busload of plastic waste is burned or dumped in developing countries.
• Global plastic production emits 400 million tonnes of greenhouses gases each year– more than the UK’s total carbon footprint.
• An estimated 8 –12.7 million tonnes of plastic is entering the oceans every year.
• Every 30 seconds the UK throws away 2 double-decker busloads of plastic waste.
• Living amongst plastic pollution and uncollected waste doubles the incidence of diarrhoeal disease.