One person dies every 30 seconds in developing countries from diseases and illnesses caused by plastic pollution and uncollected rubbish, a new report has found.

Researchers found up to one million people are dying each year from conditions such as diarrhoea, malaria and cancers caused by living near dumping grounds for waste and plastic.

The report was carried out by international relief and development agency Tearfund, alongside the Institute of Development Studies, WasteAid and conservation charity Fauna & Flora International (FFI).

Sir David Attenborough, a vice president at FFI, said: "This report is one of the first to highlight the impacts of plastic pollution not just on wildlife but also on the world's poorest people.

"It is high time we turn our attention fully to one of the most pressing problems of today - averting the plastic pollution crisis - not only for the health of our planet, but for the wellbeing of people around the world.


"We need leadership from those who are responsible for introducing plastic to countries where it cannot be adequately managed, and we need international action to support the communities and governments most acutely affected by this crisis."

Globally, two billion people - or about one in four of the world's population - do not have their rubbish collected, leading to a build-up of waste in rivers causing flooding and the spread of infectious diseases.

Image: Burning waste is the single largest source of carbon emissions in some countries

Many attempt to get rid of the waste by burning it, leading to dangerous fumes, as well as being the single largest source of carbon emissions in some countries.

The report has urged multinational companies, such as Coca-Cola, Nestlé, PepsiCo and Unilever, to fundamentally change their business models by committing to reporting the number of single-use plastic items they distribute in developing countries by 2020, and halving this by 2025.

Tearfund's Dr Ruth Valerio said: "The CEOs running these multinationals can no longer ignore the human cost of single-use. There is no time to waste."

'Plastic bag' found at deepest point on Earth

The report comes after it was revealed that plastic waste has been found during the deepest ocean dive on record, which saw explorer Victor Vescovo descend nearly seven miles (11km) down into the Pacific Ocean.

The journey to extreme depths of the Mariana Trench encountered new species of sea creatures, as well as a plastic bag and sweet wrappers.

:: Sky's Ocean Rescue campaign encourages people to reduce their single-use plastics. You can find out more about the campaign and how to get involved at www.skyoceanrescue.com.