Which of the following actions is most effective in addressing the global plastic waste crisis?

The most effective action is to ban or heavily restrict single‑use plastic items and promote reusable alternatives. By cutting the supply of disposable plastics, we reduce the amount that eventually becomes waste, and the policy forces businesses and consumers to change habits. This reduces both production emissions and landfill burden, while recycling systems can focus on larger, reusable items. For example, a city that bans plastic grocery bags and offers cloth bags sees a 70 % drop in plastic bag litter within a year, showing how a single policy can drive large waste reductions.