LifeStyle
September 17, 2019
Single Use Plastic - Prevention Better than Cure
The benefits of plastic are undeniable. The material is
cheap, lightweight and easy to make. These qualities have led to a boom in the
production of plastic over the past century.Roughly around 300 million tons of plastic are produced or used each year
and half of it are single use plastic! Out of 300 million tons of plastic
roughly 15% of plastic items are recycled. Most plastics do not
biodegrade. Instead, they slowly break down into smaller fragments known as micro
plastics.
Use and its consequences of single use plastic:
The
most common single-use plastics, or
disposable plastics, are used only once before they are thrown away or
recycled. These items are things like plastic bags, straws, coffee
stirrers, soda bottle, food wrappers, plastic grocery bags, plastic
lids, straws and stirrers, other types of plastic bags. and water bottles and
most food packaging.
These
are the waste products of a throwaway culture that treats plastic as a
disposable material. Plastic waste causes a several of problems when it leaks
into the environment. Plastic bags can block waterways and aggravate natural
disasters. By clogging sewers and providing breeding grounds for mosquitoes and
pests, plastic bags can increase the transmission of vector-borne diseases like
malaria. High concentrations of plastic materials, particularly plastic bags,
have been found blocking the airways and stomachs of hundreds of species.
Plastic bags are often ingested by turtles and dolphins who mistake them for
food.
Petroleum based plastic:
Petroleum based plastic is not biodegradable and usually goes into a
landfill where it is buried or it gets into the water and finds it’s way into
the ocean. Although plastic will not decompose into natural substance like
soil, it will break down into very small particles after several years. In
the process of breaking down and releases toxic chemicals which are used to
shape and harden the plastic and via soil and water make their way into our
food and water supply. The nature of petroleum based single used plastic is
difficult to recycle. Additionally there are a limited number of items that
recycled plastic can be used.
Making
their way to our food chain:
There
is evidence that the toxic chemicals added during the manufacture of plastic
transfer to animal tissue, eventually entering the human food chain. Styrofoam
products, which contain carcinogenic chemicals like styrene and benzene, are
highly toxic if ingested, damaging the nervous systems, lungs and reproductive
organs. The toxins in Styrofoam containers can leach into food and drinks. In
poor countries, plastic waste is often burned for heat or cooking, exposing
people to toxic emissions. Disposing of plastic waste by burning it in open-air
pits releases harmful gases like furan and dioxin.These toxic chemicals are now being found in our bloodstream and the latest research has found them to disrupt the Endocrine system which can cause cancer, infertility, birth defects, impaired immunity and many other ailments. We produce hundreds of millions of tons of plastic every year, most of which cannot be recycled. It’s obvious that we need to use less plastic, move towards environmentally sustainable products and services and come up with technology that recycles plastic more efficiently.
Prevention as there is no cure:
Stop using plastic
straws, If a straw is a must, purchase a reusable stainless steel or glass
straw. A single plastic bag can take 1,000 years to degrade. Purchase or make
your own reusable cotton bag.Give up gum. Gum is made of a synthetic rubber, use
natural gum instead. Buy boxes instead of bottles. Often, products like laundry
detergent come in cardboard which is more easily recycled than plastic. Reuse
containers for storing leftovers or shopping in bulk. Use matches instead of
disposable plastic lighters or invest in a refillable metal lighter. Avoid
buying frozen foods because their packaging is mostly plastic. Even those that
appear to be cardboard are coated in a thin layer of plastic. Don't use plastic
ware at home and be sure to request restaurants do not pack them in your
take-out box. Ask your local grocer to give things in paper or jute bag. Use
cloth diapers to reduce your baby's carbon footprint and save money. Make fresh
squeezed juice or eat fruit instead of buying juice in plastic bottles. It's
healthier and better for the invironment. Make your own cleaning products that
will be less toxic and eliminate the need for multiple plastic bottles of
cleaner. Pack your lunch in reusable containers and bags. Also, opt for fresh
fruits and veggies and bulk items instead of products that come in single
serving cups. Use a razor with replaceable blades instead of a disposable razor
The
seven types of plastic include:
- Polyethylene Terephthalate
(PETE or PET)
- High-Density Polyethylene
(HDPE)
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
- Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Polystyrene or Styrofoam (PS)
- Miscellaneous plastics
(includes: polycarbonate, polylactide, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene,
styrene, fiberglass, and nylon)
