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)