Could the UN Plastic Pollution Treaty Cut Plastic Waste by 80% in 2040?

Humans produce about 500 million tons of plastic waste every year. The United Nations is hoping to reduce that number. By focusing on recycling, reusing, and finding different materials, the UN says its plan could reduce plastic waste by 80% by 2040. Rwanda and Norway are leading coalitions to forge a treaty that limits the production of new plastics. The United States, Saudi Arabia and China would prefer the treaty to scale up recycling, not take down production.