Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects and particles (e.g. plastic bottles, bags and microbeads) in the Earth's environment that adversely affects wildlife, wildlife habitat, and humans. Plastics that act as pollutants are categorized into micro-, mesa-, or macro debris, based on size. Plastics are inexpensive and durable, and as a result levels of plastic production by humans are high. However, the chemical structure of most plastics renders them resistant to many natural processes of degradation and as a result, they are slow to degrade. Together, these two factors have led to a high prominence of plastic pollution in the environment.

 

A team of researchers in the United States and Australia, an environmental engineer at the University of Georgia, analyzed plastic waste levels in the world's oceans. They found that China and Indonesia are the top sources of plastic bottles, bags and other rubbish clogging up global sea lanes. Together, both nations account for more than a third of plastic detritus in global waters, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

 

Plastic takes 400 years and even more to Decompose

The chemical bonds that make-up plastics are strong and made to last. The decomposition rate of plastic typically ranges from 500 to 600 years, depending on the type.

According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), in the US, every bit of plastic that ever made and sent to landfills or dumped in the environment still exists.

 

What are real solutions to plastic pollution?

Government bans and restrictions for unnecessary and damaging plastic products or activities.  Legislative reuse targets.

Mandated Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations and strategies to make producers and companies responsible for the damage plastic causes to our environment, make them accountable for the entire lifecycle and true costs of their products.

Government and corporate investment in reuse models and new ways to deliver products using less or no packaging.

Corporate phase-out of production and use of single-use plastic products and throwaway product models.

A shift in dominant public mindsets away from our throwaway culture focused on convenience being equal to disposal, toward a vision of healthy, sustainable, and more connected communities.

 

The Alternative of Plastic

 

Biodegradable Plastics are Easy to Recycle

These types of plastics not only take less time to decompose when discarded but can also be easily recycled through an organic process. They are also non-toxic since they have no chemicals or toxins. Recycling helps to lessen landfill problems, and besides, the recycled bio-waste can be used as compost or as renewable energy for biogas.

 

No Toxins Or Allergens

Most biodegradable plastics--excluding those made from potato starch--contain no allergens and are safe for atopic consumers. On a whole biodegradable products non-toxic. They are made from natural elements, therefore, contain no chemicals to exude toxic and poisonous wastes while breaking down in compost. The natural composition of the biopolymers is fully absorbed by the earth.

We have to move to the biodegradable products which are 100% natural and compostable made with natural material.