It's a well-known fact that we have a monumental problem when it comes to plastic waste pollution, and from the look of things it doesn't seem to be diminishing much at all.
The industry that creates plastics and their environmentally "friendly" counterparts, thought they had developed a save-all product in the late 70s by way of biodegradable plastics. However, biodegradables do not necessarily degrade biologically as well as originally thought.
When thinking of "biodegradable" products, the first inclination may be that if you were to throw them out they would vanish back into the earth within just a few weeks. Unfortunately, this isn't the case with most biodegradables. As a matter of fact, these products may require the 130-degree Fahrenheit heat of an industrial composter in order to "break down." These degradable plastics are also known to remain in landfills and ocean waters for up to 20 years or even longer. And they are simply not degradable enough for the compost heap.
In 2015 the United Nations Environment Programme wrote off biodegradables as an unrealistic solution which will neither scale back the quantity of plastic flowing into the oceans nor forestall potential chemical or physical harm to aquatic life. It determined that the label "biodegradable" may essentially boost littering.
So with the industry's apparent fail of curbing the problem, that just leaves us humans, the residents of Earth, the polluters of Earth, to clean up our own mess-and we must do it on an individual level.
Luckily, there is a plethora of ways in which we can help minimize plastic waste. And most start with our daily decisions. For example; giving up plastic bags entirely and instead opting for reusable bags. A very simple decision to make that could reduce the amount of plastic bags being used by the billions. Studies show that nearly a trillion plastic shopping bags are used worldwide every year, and 100 billion in the United States alone-that's almost one per American per day.
Another way is to skip plastic straws. Americans toss five-hundred million plastic straws daily, or about 1.5 per person. That adds up to a lot of plastic waste. One more easy way to minimize our plastic waste is by simply refusing plastic bottles. This daily decision is as simple as deciding to use a refillable water bottle. All around the globe, nearly a million plastic beverage bottles are sold every minute.
It would also be an incredible help if we all started avoiding plastic packaging. For example, buy bar soap instead of liquid and buy in bulk. Avoid produce sheathed in plastic. And while you're at it, give up plastic plates, cups and utensils. And of course, recycle what you can. Even in rich countries, recycling rates are low. Globally, 18 percent of all plastic is recycled. Europe manages 30 percent, China 25-the United States only nine percent.
And lastly, don't litter. The Ocean Conservancy has run beach cleanups for nearly thirty years. Of the most prevalent types of trash they usually gather, the only nonplastic item is glass bottles.
If people were to focus on their distinctive habits, we could collectively make a remarkable difference in the plastic waste that finds its way out into the environment.
Source:https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/06/plastic-planet-solutions-waste-pollution/
