Plastic waste is affecting the environment
| Plastic waste is one of the most obvious problems in our world today. We have all seen pictures of the plastic Islands in the oceans and on the beaches in our favourite tourist countries. We even see the plastic waste on the side of the road near our horses, and watch it fly by like leaves in the wind. The most pressing problem however is the plastic contamination of the oceans, where microplastics have found its way into the wildlife and are now being reintroduced to our diets via the food chain. |
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Is plastic affecting the climate?
So much of what we consume is made of plastic, since it is inexpensive, yet durable. However, plastic is slow to degrade- taking over 400 years or more- because of its chemical structure, which presents a huge challenge. Not only that, but also it is threatening the ability of the global community to keep global temperature rise below 1.5°C, as greenhouse gases (GHG) are emitted throughout the plastic life cycle. Indeed, extraction, refining and manufacture of plastics are all carbon intensive activities, not to mention the emissions from when it’s being incinerated as a part of the waste disposal.
For all these reasons, reducing plastic consumption and raising awareness about plastic recycling is crucial if we truly want to overcome the problem of plastic waste and protect our home-planet before it is too late.
For all these reasons, reducing plastic consumption and raising awareness about plastic recycling is crucial if we truly want to overcome the problem of plastic waste and protect our home-planet before it is too late.
How much plastic is wasted?
But what exactly do we mean when referring to this issue and how big is the problem of the fact that plastic is an integral part of our daily life?Plastic waste, or plastic pollution, can be defined as:
“the accumulation of plastic objects in the Earth’s environment that adversely affects wildlife, wildlife habitat, and humans.”
It also refers to the significant amount of plastic that isn’t recycled and ends up in landfill or, in the developing world, thrown into unregulated dump sites. The three quarters that aren't recycled enters our environment, polluting our oceans and causing damage to our ecosystem. In less developed countries, the majority of plastic waste eventually ends up in the ocean, meaning that marine animals are especially at risk. In particular, plastic accumulates in body fat, causing side effects throughout the food chain, all the way down to humans.
