Over decades, there have been steep rise in the production and consumption of plastic around the world. This has caused the planet to be overwhelmed with plastic waste which is detrimental to our environment and everything that lives in it. From 1950 to 2018, about 6.3 billion plastic have been produced globally and not even a half of them have been recycled or incinerated. According to Statistica.com, in 2019 global production of plastic was totaled at 368 million metric tons which was estimated to have roughly decreased by 0.3% in 2020 due to Covid-19. Giving the overwhelming production rate of plastic, plastic waste has become a global environmental issue especially in African and Asian countries where garbage collection systems are almost not in existence. This is due to voracious production and consumption of disposable plastic products. Even highly developed countries have problems with managing plastic waste. The global rush on plastic products is as a result of their versatility, durability, affordability, among other things.
Plastics are made up of synthetic or organic materials that can be shaped when soft and then hardened to retain a given shape. Plastics are large molecules called polymers, composed of segments called monomers with carbon backbones. The properties of plastic have made them indispensable in our contemporary world. They are light in weight, resistant to water, thermally and electrically insulating, among other qualities that makes their production and use preferable.
The use of plastic is all encompassing, cutting across diverse areas of human preoccupation. In building and construction, plastics are used to create durable and sustainable infrastructures, and the bulk of household equipment is made of plastic. Plastics helps to reduce weight in conveyance of goods which in turn saves fuel and reduces greenhouse emissions. In electronics, plastics have helped simplify computers, mobile phones, refrigerators, among other things and make them lightweight, affordable and long lasting. Some of the clothes we wear are made of plastics Polyesters and Polymers. In packaging and labeling, plastics have enhanced preservation of goods. The list of the benefits of plastics in our contemporary world goes on and on, making our reliance on them Inevitable. These benefits however comes with downsides on our environment and everything that lives in it.
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According to a report by National Geographic in 2019, half of all plastics ever manufactured have been made in the last 15 years. The problem with these statistics is not the exponential increase in plastic production but where these plastic products ends up after use. Millions of them are not properly managed after use. This is due largely to the poor waste management systems in most countries of the world and even countries with laudable waste collection systems have not been able to successfully deal with the tragedy of plastic waste.
One major reason why mismanagement of plastic waste is an issue of international emergency is the ability of plastic to last very long before breaking down. They are classified as non biodegradable waste because they are not easily broken down by biological processes. According to scientists, it takes plastic products at leasts 400 years to break down. They are so strong that even when they appear to have been broken down, tiny particles of them still linger around and even when we cannot see them, they are still plastic.
The adverse effects of mismanagement of plastic waste permeate through every area of existence in our environment. Plastic waste causes air pollution as a result of the release of poisonous chemicals when they are burned. The polluted air in turn can cause respiratory problems when inhaled by humans and animals. Millions of animals are killed yearly by plastic. About 700 species including endangered ones have been reported to be affected by plastic.
The water bodies are also victims of plastic waste. It has been reported that about 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes every year into the sea from coastal nations. Scientists have discovered micro-plastics in over 100 species of marine animals, and most of these animals are consumed by humans. This makes humans at the receiving end of plastic waste. We also take in plastics into our body by drinking from plastic bottled water. In 2018, according to a research by the world health organization, 90% of plastic bottled water were discovered to contain micro-plastics.
The world need to wake up to the reality of the dangerous effect of continuous reliance on plastic products. The easiest way to save our planet from drowning in plastic is to stop plastic production. However, this is an impossible venture. Rather, every country should be focused on developing effective waste management systems. This would help in sustaining plastic products and prevent littering and careless dumping of plastics.
There are various mediums through which we can combat the dangerous effects of plastic waste. World leaders must resolve to take the fight against plastic pollution to their countries. International conventions should also be held on the effects of plastic waste on the environment and governments should enact and enforce laws to regulate the production, usage and disposal of plastic. Reusing and recycling of plastic products must also be encouraged. Finally, biodegradable bio-plastics should also be used as an alternative to conventional plastic products.
There are plethora of ways in which we can bring an end to plastic waste, but the entire world must be united in this fight. The world’s plastic problem is a collective one. Even if the developed countries of the world in America and Europe successfully deal with their plastic problems, plastic waste can still be transported from less developed countries via the seas and oceans. Global systemic changes are needed to prevent a future in which our world is irreversibly destroyed by plastic and other forms of environmental pollution.
