Plastic treaty talks collapse with no deal

TALKS aimed at striking a landmark global treaty on plastic pollution fell apart yesterday without agreement, as countries failed to find consensus on how the world should tackle the ever-growing scourge.

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Negotiators from 185 nations worked beyond Thursday's deadline and through the night in a futile search for common ground between nations wanting bold action such as curbing plastic production, and oil-producing states preferring to focus more narrowly on waste management.

Several countries voiced disappointment as the talks unravelled, but said they were prepared for future negotiations — despite six rounds of talks over three years now having failed to find agreement.