How Much Plastic Do We Waste Everyday?
How Much Plastic Do We Waste Everyday?
The world is dying. and we are responsible. One of the biggest destroyers of this Earth are plastics, which not many people see as a problem. Below I have listed a few of the things that are destroying the Earth. I have also listed a few solutions to these problems. These solutions will have no cost to you at all. It is our job to protect the Earth, and conserve it for future generations.
Everyday Plastic Use
Plastic bottles and plastic bags... what they do to the environment?
Everyday 60 million plastic bottles end up in landfills along with 4.8 million plastic bags, and still no one seems to care. Plastic bottles have been estimated to be the largest contributor to litter waste. Plastic bottles, even though they can be recycled, end up in landfills. A lot of stores and supermarkets have already started to use paper or cloth bags, as an alternative to single use plastic bags; however the majority of shops all around Australia still use single use plastic bags. Unless they stop and find and alternative, single use plastic bags, will continue destroying our environment. now its up to us to now do something about this, before our world is destroyed by plastics.
Biodegradable and Compostable plastic bags... better for the environment?
Most people today believe that biodegradable bags and compostable bags are better for the environment, than single use plastic bags; however this incorrect as, when biodegradable and compostable bags go to landfills, they will break down a lot more slowly than they would in your home composting system, and they will break down without oxygen, producing methane, a greenhouse gas much more dangerous than carbon dioxide. Biodegradable bags do not break down in marine environments at all.
Disposable coffee cups... are they really made out of paper?
Disposable coffee cups, which look like they are made of paper, have been found to contain plastics that do not break down and are damaging to the environment. These coffee cups have a plastic lining which doesn't biodegrade. These disposable coffee cups have been estimated to be second-largest contributor to litter waste after plastic bottles. It is also estimated that Australians use 1 billion disposable cups every year. Richard Fine, the person who founded biodegradable coffee cup manufacturer Biopak a decade ago, estimated that up to 90 per cent of all disposable cups end up in landfill, equating to around 60 thousand kilograms of plastic waste per year.
Our oceans and what we are doing to them...
18 thousand tonnes of the plastic wasted everyday ends up in the ocean. The US' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Woods Hole Sea Grant, estimate that it shall take approximately 450 years before the ocean breaks the plastic currently in it (up to 01/02/2020); however most of the ocean would be filled with plastic before that happens. The great accumulation of plastic, called The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, is a solid plastic island, which is currently made up of 79 thousand tonnes of discarded plastic, and is constantly growing. This massive environmental monster is currently floating towards one of Australia's most beautiful natural wonders, The Great Barrier Reef, the worlds largest coral reef system. Now it's up to us to save our natural wonders, that are at risk to environmental monsters that we have created.
How Can we put a stop to these plastic monsters roaming and destroying the Earth?
If we are to conserve the Earth for future generations to come, there are a few a solutions that we can use in our everyday lives without a single cost, but a gain to all of us.
Solutions
Plastic Bottles
Plastic bottles can be recycled or it can also be traded in at recycling centers for 10 cents a bottle, in most parts of Australia. You can also reuse these plastic bottles for a few time before again recycling them.
Single Use Plastic Bags
Single Use Plastic bags can be reused, and if a cashier asks if you would like a plastic bag, you should reply no, unless they are paper or cloth bags. Instead you can bring a bag with you every time you go shopping or to the supermarket.
You can also have your own home composting system, and use the compost to grow your own garden. If you use these alternative methods in your everyday life, like I do, you will be making the slightest difference to help conserve the Earth.
01/02/2020
References
- US' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- Woods Hole Sea Grant
This is great Sasindu! Can you point us to some contact details of recycling centers and of some companies that specialize in setting up domestic composte systems?
ReplyDeleteI will be writing more about recycling centres from most countries all around the world. Keep reading on and soon I will release a page with recycling centres and their locations listed on them.
DeleteThis is a excellent
ReplyDeleteIf we can stop or banned using bottles which are below 1000ml to fill water , i think this can save lot as well as if we can promote recycling by giving 10c for every bottle that also will reduce great number plastic waste.
ReplyDelete