Talks on forging a landmark treaty to combat the scourge of plastic pollution were stumbling Saturday, with progress slow and countries wildly at odds on how far the proposed agreement should go.

The negotiations, which opened on Tuesday, have four working days left to strike a legally-binding instrument that would tackle the growing problem choking the environment.

In a blunt mid-way assessment, talks chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso warned the 184 countries negotiating at the United Nations that they had to get shifting to get a deal.

"Progress made has not been sufficient," Vayas told delegates.

"A real push to achieve our common goal is needed," the Ecuadoran diplomat said, adding that Thursday was not a just deadline but "a date by which we must deliver.

"Some articles still have unresolved issues and show little progress towards reaching a common understanding," Vayas lamented.

The key fracture is between countries that want to focus on waste management and others who want a more ambitious treaty that also cuts production and........

© International Business Times