essay plastic pollution

Essay on Plastic Pollution

Introduction

Plastic pollution has become a critical environmental challenge, presenting a major threat to ecosystems, wildlife, and human health on a global scale. Defined as the accumulation of plastic waste in the environment, this issue has reached alarming levels due to the pervasive use of single-use plastics and inadequate waste management systems. For instance, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, spanning an area twice the size of Texas, is a stark reminder of the scale of this problem. As plastics persist in the environment for hundreds of years, they degrade into smaller particles known as microplastics, infiltrating even the most remote ecosystems. This essay will examine the effects, reasons, and remedies for plastic pollution , emphasizing the immediate necessity for collective action to tackle this worldwide crisis.

Significance of the Issue

The significance of plastic pollution extends beyond environmental concerns to encompass economic, social, and health implications. Here are several key points outlining its significance:

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• Environmental Degradation: Plastic pollution disrupts ecosystems, harming wildlife through ingestion, entanglement, and habitat destruction. It contaminates soil, waterways, and oceans, altering natural landscapes and threatening biodiversity .
• Human Health Risks: Plastics release harmful chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, which can leach into food and water and pose health risks such as hormonal disruption, reproductive issues, and cancer.
• Economic Costs: Plastic pollution imposes significant economic burdens on communities and industries, including costs associated with cleanup efforts, damage to tourism and fisheries, and losses in agricultural productivity.
• Marine Debris: Plastic debris in oceans severely threatens marine life. Millions of seabirds, turtles, and marine mammals perish yearly due to consuming or becoming entangled in plastic waste.
• Microplastic Contamination: Microplastics, tiny plastic particles less than 5mm in size, have infiltrated marine and terrestrial environments, entering the food chain and potentially exposing humans to harmful toxins.
• Global Scale: Plastic pollution is a global issue, transcending national borders and affecting all continents. The interconnected nature of marine currents means that plastic waste generated in one region can travel thousands of kilometers, exacerbating the problem on a global scale.
• Long-term Persistence: Plastics can persist in the environment for hundreds to thousands of years, accumulating over time and exacerbating the problem of pollution. This persistence makes plastic pollution a long-term and challenging issue to address.
• Environmental Justice: Plastic pollution disproportionately affects marginalized communities and developing countries with limited waste management resources, exacerbating social inequalities and environmental injustices.

Types of Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution comes in various forms, each with its own set of environmental impacts. Here are some common types of plastic pollution:

• Single-Use Plastics: Manufacturers design items like plastic bags, straws, bottles, and packaging for one-time use before users discard them. They majorly contribute to plastic pollution due to their widespread consumption and improper disposal.
• Microplastics: These are minute plastic particles measuring less than 5mm, either intentionally produced for specific uses (such as microbeads in cosmetics) or generated through the degradation of larger plastic items. Microplastics are widely distributed in the environment, existing in oceans , soil , and even the air .
• Macroplastics: Larger plastic items, such as fishing nets, buoys, and packaging materials, contribute to visible pollution in water bodies and on land. These items can entangle marine life and pose a hazard to wildlife.
• Nurdles: Nurdles are small, pellet-like plastic raw materials used in manufacturing plastic products. Accidental spills during transportation or handling can lead to nurdle pollution in waterways, where they can be mistaken for food by marine animals.
• Plastic Bags: The convenience of lightweight, long-lasting plastic bags for shopping and packaging comes at a cost: significant environmental pollution . This is because they are rarely recycled and often thrown away improperly.
• Expanded Polystyrene (Styrofoam): Styrofoam products, such as food containers and packaging materials, are lightweight and easily carried by wind and water, leading to widespread pollution in urban and natural environments.
• Plastic Packaging: Excessive packaging, especially non-recyclable or difficult-to-recycle materials, contributes to plastic pollution by generating large amounts of waste that often end up in landfills or the environment.

Causes of Plastic Pollution

Human activities and a combination of societal, economic, and environmental factors primarily cause plastic pollution. Here are some key causes of plastic pollution:

• Poor Waste Management: Inadequate waste management systems, including insufficient recycling infrastructure and improper disposal practices, litter plastic waste or end up in landfills, waterways, and oceans.
• Plastic Production and Consumption: The increasing production and consumption of plastics, driven by consumer demand and industrial processes, lead to a higher volume of plastic waste entering the environment.
• Lack of Recycling: Many plastics need to be recycled due to low recycling rates, limited recycling facilities, and the complexity of recycling certain types of plastics.
• Plastic Packaging: Excessive and unnecessary plastic packaging contributes to plastic pollution. Packaging materials often become waste after a single use, adding to the plastic waste stream.
• Mismanagement of Plastic Waste: Illegal dumping, littering, and inadequate waste collection and disposal practices contribute to plastic pollution, especially in urban areas and developing countries with limited waste management infrastructure.
• Plastic in Rivers and Waterways: Plastic waste from inland sources can be transported through rivers and waterways to the ocean, where it accumulates and contributes to marine plastic pollution.
• Loss and Abandonment of Fishing Gear: Discarded or lost fishing gear, such as nets and lines, is a significant source of marine plastic pollution, posing entanglement and ingestion risks to aquatic life.
• Microplastics from Synthetic Fibers: Synthetic fibers from clothing, textiles, and personal care products can shed microplastic particles during use and washing, contributing to microplastic pollution in the environment.
• Lack of Awareness and Education: Insufficient awareness of plastic pollution’s harmful environmental effects and the importance of proper waste disposal can lead to unsustainable habits and actions.

Human Health Implications

Plastic pollution has several human health implications, primarily due to the toxic chemicals present in plastics and the potential for ingestion of microplastics. Here are some key ways in which plastic pollution can impact human health:

• Chemical Exposure: Plastics contain a variety of chemicals, such as bisphenols (e.g., BPA) and phthalates, which are known to be endocrine disruptors. These chemicals can potentially migrate out of plastics and into food, drinks, and the surroundings, potentially exposing humans to harmful substances.
• Food and Water Contamination: Plastic packaging and containers can contaminate food and water with chemicals from the plastic, especially when exposed to heat or acidic conditions. This contamination can lead to ingesting harmful chemicals, posing risks to human health.
• Microplastic Ingestion: Microplastics, which are tiny particles of plastic less than 5mm in size, can be ingested through food, water, and air. Over time, these particles can accumulate in the body and may cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and other adverse health effects.
• Respiratory Issues: Burning plastic waste, a common disposal method in some areas, releases toxic fumes and particulate matter into the air. Breathing in these pollutants can cause respiratory issues and worsen pre-existing conditions.
• Endocrine Disruption: Some chemicals found in plastics, such as phthalates and bisphenols, can interfere with the body’s hormonal system, potentially leading to reproductive issues, developmental problems, and other health effects.
• Cancer Risk: Certain chemicals found in plastics, such as styrene and vinyl chloride, are classified as carcinogens and may increase the risk of cancer with long-term exposure.
• Immune System Effects: Exposure to chemicals in plastics can affect the immune system, potentially increasing susceptibility to infections and other immune-related disorders.
• Children’s Health: Children are especially susceptible to the health consequences of plastic pollution because of their developing bodies and behaviors that could lead to increased exposure, such as frequent hand-to-mouth contact

Global Efforts to Combat Plastic Pollution

In recent years, global efforts to combat plastic pollution have gained momentum, with various initiatives and actions taking place at international, national, and local levels. Here are some key global efforts to address plastic pollution:

• United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA): The UNEA has highlighted the issue of plastic pollution and called for action to address it. In 2019, the UNEA adopted a resolution on marine litter and microplastics, urging countries to take measures to reduce plastic waste.
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): UNEP has launched several initiatives to combat plastic pollution, including the Clean Seas campaign, which aims to reduce marine litter and raise awareness about the issue.
• Plastic Pollution Coalition: This global alliance of organizations, businesses , and individuals is working to reduce plastic pollution through advocacy, education, and collaboration.
• Ocean Cleanup Projects: Several organizations and initiatives are working on technologies and projects to remove plastic waste from the oceans, such as the Ocean Cleanup project and various beach cleanup efforts.
• International Agreements: Global agreements like the Basel Convention, Stockholm Convention, and Rotterdam Convention tackle the cross-border transport of hazardous waste, including plastic waste, with the goal of minimizing its impact on human health and the environment.
• Plastic Bag Bans: Numerous countries and regions have enforced prohibitions or limitations on single-use plastic bags to diminish plastic waste and promote the adoption of reusable alternatives.
• Circular Economy Initiatives: Initiatives aimed at advancing a circular economy, characterized by more efficient resource utilization and waste reduction, can aid in curtailing plastic pollution by ensuring that plastics are reused, recycled, or composted rather than being discarded as waste.
• Industry Initiatives: Many companies and industries are taking steps to reduce their use of plastic and promote recycling and reuse of plastics in their products and packaging.
• Education and Awareness Campaigns: Public education and awareness initiatives are vital in mitigating plastic pollution by motivating individuals to decrease their reliance on single-use plastics and embrace more sustainable behaviors.
• Research and Innovation: Continued research and innovation are essential for developing new technologies, materials, and solutions to address plastic pollution and promote a more sustainable approach to plastic use.

Solutions to Plastic Pollution

Tackling plastic pollution necessitates a holistic approach that encompasses reducing plastic production and consumption, enhancing waste management systems, advocating for recycling and reuse, and fostering innovation in materials and technologies. Here are some key solutions to plastic pollution:

• Reduce Single-Use Plastics: Encourage individuals and businesses to reduce the use of single-use plastics such as bags, straws, and bottles by opting for reusable alternatives.
• Improve Recycling Infrastructure: Invest in and expand recycling facilities and programs to ensure more plastics are recycled rather than ending up in landfills or the environment.
• Promote Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Hold producers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products, including collection, recycling, and disposal, to incentivize the development of more sustainable packaging and products.
• Ban or Restrict Problematic Plastics: To reduce their environmental impact, implement bans or restrictions on certain types of single-use plastics, such as microbeads, styrofoam, and plastic bags.
• Encourage Innovation: Support research and development of alternative materials to plastics and innovative technologies for recycling and upcycling plastic waste.
• Clean-up Initiatives: Support and participate in clean-up efforts to remove plastic waste from the environment, especially in rivers, oceans, and coastal areas.
• Education and Awareness: Increase awareness about the environmental impact of plastic pollution and encourage sustainable practices among individuals, businesses, and communities.
• Policy and Regulation: Implementing and enforcing policies and regulations at all levels to reduce plastic pollution, including single-use plastic bans and mandatory recycling, is crucial.
• Invest in Sustainable Alternatives: Support developing and adopting sustainable alternatives to plastics, such as compostable materials and biodegradable plastics.
• Behavioral Change: To reduce plastic pollution, encourage changes in consumer behavior, such as choosing products with less packaging and properly disposing of plastic waste.

Various stakeholders must coordinate their efforts and overcome several obstacles to address plastic pollution. Here are some of the key challenges in combatting plastic pollution:

• Complexity of the Issue: Plastic pollution is a multifaceted problem with diverse sources, pathways, and impacts, making it challenging to address comprehensively.
• Global Nature: Plastic pollution transcends national borders and requires coordinated action at the international level, making it difficult to implement unified policies and regulations.
• Limited Recycling Infrastructure: Inadequate recycling infrastructure and low recycling rates in many regions hinder efforts to manage and recycle plastic waste effectively.
• Lack of Alternatives: While alternatives to plastics exist, such as biodegradable or compostable materials, they may only sometimes be readily available or economically viable, limiting their adoption.
• Consumer Behavior: Changing consumer behavior and reducing reliance on single-use plastics require significant education, awareness-raising, and incentivization efforts.
• Economic Factors: The production and use of plastics are deeply entrenched in global economies, and transitioning to more sustainable alternatives may face resistance from industries and businesses.
• Plastic Production: The continued growth of plastic production, driven by demand from various industries, poses a challenge to reducing plastic pollution.
• Policy Implementation: Enacting and enforcing policies and regulations to address plastic pollution may face political and logistical challenges, including opposition from stakeholders and the need for enforcement capacity.
• International Cooperation: Achieving meaningful progress in combating plastic pollution requires cooperation and collaboration among governments, businesses, NGOs, and other stakeholders, which can be challenging to achieve.

Future Outlook

The future outlook for addressing plastic pollution includes challenges, opportunities, and potential advancements. Here are some key aspects of the future outlook for combating plastic pollution:

• Increased Awareness and Action: There is growing global awareness about the severity of plastic pollution and its impacts on the environment and human health. This heightened awareness drives increased action at all levels, from grassroots initiatives to international agreements.
• Policy and Regulatory Changes: Governments worldwide are implementing policies and regulations to reduce plastic pollution, including bans on single-use plastics, extended producer responsibility schemes, and incentives for recycling and waste reduction.
• Technological Innovations: Technological advances, such as new materials, recycling technologies, and waste management systems, hold promise for more effectively addressing plastic pollution. Innovations such as biodegradable plastics, chemical recycling, and ocean cleanup technologies have the potential to reduce plastic waste significantly.
• Shift Towards Circular Economy: There is a growing recognition of the need to move away from a linear economy, which involves consuming products and disposing of them, towards a circular economy that focuses on using resources more efficiently and reducing waste. This shift towards a circular economy model can help reduce plastic pollution by promoting reuse, recycling, and resource efficiency.
• Consumer Behavior Change: Changing consumer attitudes and behaviors toward plastics, including reducing consumption, opting for reusable alternatives, and properly disposing of plastic waste, will be crucial for effectively addressing plastic pollution.
• Industry Action: Businesses and industries increasingly recognize the importance of addressing plastic pollution and are taking steps to reduce their plastic footprint. These initiatives include redesigning packaging, investing in recycling infrastructure, and incorporating recycled materials into products.
• International Collaboration: Addressing plastic pollution requires coordinated action at the global level, involving collaboration among governments, businesses, NGOs, and other stakeholders. International agreements and partnerships, such as the Basel Convention and the Global Plastic Action Partnership, play a crucial role in driving collective action.
• Research and Education: Continued research on the environmental and health impacts of plastic pollution, alongside public education and awareness initiatives, will be vital for shaping policy decisions, fostering innovation, and garnering public support for action.

Addressing plastic pollution is imperative for safeguarding the environment, wildlife, and human health. While the challenges are significant, there is growing momentum and action at global, national, and local levels to tackle this issue. By implementing a combination of strategies, including reducing single-use plastics, improving waste management systems, promoting recycling and innovation, and fostering behavior change, we can make meaningful progress in reducing plastic pollution. It will require cooperation and commitment from governments, industries, communities, and individuals to transition towards a more sustainable, plastic-free future. Together, we can strive towards a cleaner, healthier planet for both present and future generations.

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• Introduction

The problem of plastics

• Plastic pollution in oceans and on land
• Pollution by plastics additives
• Solving the problem

• What are the abiotic and biotic components of the biosphere?
• What is pollution?
• Does pollution cause climate change?
• How can we reduce pollution?

plastic pollution

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• National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Plastic Pollution: A Perspective on Matters Arising: Challenges and Opportunities
• IUCN - The plastic pollution crisis
• Table Of Contents

plastic pollution , accumulation in the environment of synthetic plastic products to the point that they create problems for wildlife and their habitats as well as for human populations . In 1907 the invention of Bakelite brought about a revolution in materials by introducing truly synthetic plastic resins into world commerce. By the end of the 20th century, plastics had been found to be persistent polluters of many environmental niches , from Mount Everest to the bottom of the sea . Whether being mistaken for food by animals , flooding low-lying areas by clogging drainage systems, or simply causing significant aesthetic blight , plastics have attracted increasing attention as a large-scale pollutant .

Plastic is a polymeric material —that is, a material whose molecules are very large, often resembling long chains made up of a seemingly endless series of interconnected links. Natural polymers such as rubber and silk exist in abundance, but nature’s “plastics” have not been implicated in environmental pollution , because they do not persist in the environment . Today, however, the average consumer comes into daily contact with all kinds of plastic materials that have been developed specifically to defeat natural decay processes—materials derived mainly from petroleum that can be molded, cast, spun, or applied as a coating. Since synthetic plastics are largely nonbiodegradable , they tend to persist in natural environments . Moreover, many lightweight single-use plastic products and packaging materials, which account for approximately 50 percent of all plastics produced, are not deposited in containers for subsequent removal to landfills , recycling centres, or incinerators . Instead, they are improperly disposed of at or near the location where they end their usefulness to the consumer. Dropped on the ground, thrown out of a car window , heaped onto an already full trash bin, or inadvertently carried off by a gust of wind , they immediately begin to pollute the environment . Indeed, landscapes littered by plastic packaging have become common in many parts of the world. (Illegal dumping of plastic and overflowing of containment structures also play a role.) Studies from around the world have not shown any particular country or demographic group to be most responsible, though population centres generate the most litter. The causes and effects of plastic pollution are truly worldwide.

According to the trade association PlasticsEurope, worldwide plastic production grew from some 1.5 million metric tons (about 1.7 million short tons) per year in 1950 to an estimated 275 million metric tons (about 303 million short tons) by 2010 and 359 million metric tons (nearly 396 million short tons) by 2018; between 4.8 million and 12.7 million metric tons (5.3 million and 14 million short tons) are discarded into the oceans annually by countries with ocean coastlines.

Compared with materials in common use in the first half of the 20th century, such as glass , paper , iron , and aluminum , plastics have a low recovery rate. That is, they are relatively inefficient to reuse as recycled scrap in the manufacturing process, because of significant processing difficulties such as a low melting point, which prevents contaminants from being driven off during heating and reprocessing. Most recycled plastics are subsidized below the cost of raw materials by various deposit schemes, or their recycling is simply mandated by government regulations. Recycling rates vary dramatically from country to country, and only northern European countries obtain rates greater than 50 percent. In any case, recycling does not really address plastic pollution, since recycled plastic is “properly” disposed of, whereas plastic pollution comes from improper disposal.

Plastic Pollution Essay

500+ words essay on plastic pollution.

Plastic has become an integral part of our daily lives. We begin our day using mugs and buckets made of plastic for bathing. Further, as we trace back our activities throughout the day, we use plastic in the form of water bottles, combs, food packaging, milk pouches, straws, disposable cutlery, carry bags, gift wrappers, toys etc. The wide use of plastic has resulted in a large amount of waste generated. Plastic has been so much used that plastic pollution has become one of the environmental problems that the world is facing today. It has impacted the environment, our health and well-being. We have all contributed to this problem, and now it’s our responsibility to work towards it to reduce and ultimately End Plastic Pollution. This essay on plastic pollution will help students to understand the harmful effects of using plastic and how it is affecting our environment. So, students must go through it and then try to write their own essays on this topic. They can also practise CBSE essays on different topics as well.

Plastic Pollution

The accumulation of plastic products in huge amounts in the Earth’s environment is called plastic pollution. It adversely affects wildlife, wildlife habitat, and humans, which has become a major concern. In 2008, our global plastic consumption worldwide was estimated at 260 million tons. Plastic is versatile, lightweight, flexible, moisture-resistant, strong, and relatively inexpensive, because of which it is excessively used by everyone. It has replaced and displaced many other materials, such as wood, paper, stone, leather, metal, glass and ceramic. Plastics have come to clutter almost every landscape. In the modern world, plastics can be found in components ranging from stationery items to spaceships. Therefore, the over-consumption of plastic goods, discarding, littering, use and throwing culture has resulted in plastic waste generation and thus creating plastic pollution.

Every day, thousands of tons of pollutants are discarded into the air by natural events and human actions. Far more damaging are the substances discharged into the atmosphere by human actions. Most plastics are highly resistant to the natural processes of degradation. As a result, it takes a longer period of time to degrade the plastic. It has resulted in the enormous presence of plastic pollution in the environment and, at the same time, adversely affected human health. It is estimated that plastic waste constitutes approximately 10% of the total municipal waste worldwide and that 80% of all plastic found in the world’s oceans originates from land-based sources.

How to Manage Plastic Pollution?

To save the environment from plastic waste, we should minimise and ultimately end the use of plastic. Each one of us has to learn the following 4 R’s:

• Refuse – Say no to plastic, particularly single-use plastic, as much as possible.
• Reduce – Limit or reduce the use of plastic in daily life.
• Reuse – Reuse plastic products as much as possible before disposing of them.
• Recycle – Plastic products should be recycled into other usable products. This reduces the demand for manufacturing raw plastic required to make various plastic products.

Apart from that, we should educate other people around us. We should create awareness campaigns in public places and help people know about plastic pollution and its harmful effects. We should stop this culture of using and throwing and start reusing things. When everyone takes a pledge to minimise the use of plastic, then we will be able to manage plastic pollution.

Students must have found this Essay on Plastic Pollution helpful for improving their writing section. They can also access more study material related to CBSE/ICSE/State Board/Competitive exams, by visiting the BYJU’S website.

Frequently asked Questions on Plastic pollution Essay

How does plastic pollution affect the environment.

Excessive usage of plastic products has caused the accumulation of this plastic on Earth. Plastic is non-biodegradable and does not naturally degrade or break down thus these plastics are flooded over the Earth.

How to reduce plastic usage?

Replacement of plastic items with jute, cotton and other biodegradable items needs to come into practice more.

What are the simple steps to avoid plastic overuse?

The simple 3 R method can be followed: “Reduce, reuse and recycle”.

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The World's Plastic Pollution Crisis Explained

Much of the planet is swimming in discarded plastic, which is harming animal and possibly human health. Can it be cleaned up?

Conservation

Children Play among Plastic

While plastic pollution is a worldwide problem it is most obvious in less-wealthy African and Asian nations, like the Philippines. Here, children play among plastic waste on the shore of Manila Bay.

Photograph by Randy Olson

Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, as rapidly increasing production of disposable plastic products overwhelms the world’s ability to deal with them. Plastic pollution is most visible in less-wealthy Asian and African nations, where garbage collection systems are often inefficient or nonexistent. But wealthy nations, especially those with low recycling rates, also have trouble properly collecting discarded plastics. Plastic trash has become so ubiquitous it has prompted efforts to write a global treaty negotiated by the United Nations. How Did this Happen? Plastics made from fossil fuels are just over a century old. Production and development of thousands of new plastic products accelerated after World War II to the extent that life without plastics would be unimaginable today. Plastics revolutionized medicine with life-saving devices, made space travel possible, lightened cars and jets—saving fuel and lessening pollution —and saved lives with helmets, incubators , and equipment for clean drinking water. The conveniences plastics offer, however, led to a throw-away culture that reveals the material’s dark side: Today, single-use plastics account for 40 percent of the plastic produced every year. Many of these products, such as plastic bags and food wrappers, are used for mere minutes to hours, yet they may persist in the environment for hundreds of years. Plastics by the Numbers Some key facts:

• Half of all plastics ever manufactured have been made in the last 15 years.
• Production increased exponentially, from 2.3 million tons in 1950 to 448 million tons by 2015. Production is expected to double by 2050.
• Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans from coastal nations. That’s the equivalent of setting five garbage bags full of trash on every foot of coastline around the world.
• Plastics often contain additives making them stronger, more flexible, and durable. But many of these additives can extend the life of products if they become litter, with some estimates ranging to at least 400 years to break down.

How Plastics Move around the World Most of the plastic trash in the oceans, Earth’s last sink, flows from land. Trash is also carried to sea by major rivers, which act as conveyor belts, picking up more and more trash as they move downstream . Once at sea, much of the plastic trash remains in coastal waters. But once caught up in ocean currents, it can be transported around the world. On Henderson Island, an uninhabited atoll in the Pitcairn Group isolated halfway between Chile and New Zealand, scientists found plastic items from Russia, the United States, Europe, South America, Japan, and China. They were carried to the South Pacific by the South Pacific gyre , a circular ocean current. Microplastics Once at sea, sunlight, wind, and wave action break down plastic waste into small particles, often less than half a centimer (one-fifth of an inch) across. These so-called microplastics are spread throughout the water column and have been found in every corner of the globe, from Mount Everest, the highest peak, to the Mariana Trench, the deepest trough . Microplastics are breaking down further into smaller and smaller pieces. Plastic microfibers (or the even smaller nanofibers), meanwhile, have been found in municipal drinking water systems and drifting through the air. Harm to Wildlife Millions of animals are killed by plastics every year, from birds to fish to other marine organisms. Nearly 700 species, including endangered ones, are known to have been affected by plastics. Nearly every species of seabird eats plastics. Most of the deaths to animals are caused by entanglement or starvation. Seals, whales, turtles, and other animals are strangled by  abandoned fishing gear or discarded six-pack rings. Microplastics have been found in more than 100 aquatic species, including fish, shrimp, and mussels destined for our dinner plates. In many cases, these tiny bits pass through the digestive system and are expelled without consequence. But plastics have also been found to have blocked digestive tracts or pierced organs, causing death. Stomachs so packed with plastics reduce the urge to eat, causing starvation. Plastics have been consumed by land-based animals, including elephants, hyenas, zebras, tigers, camels, cattle, and other large mammals, in some cases causing death. Tests have also confirmed liver and cell damage and disruptions to  reproductive systems , prompting some species, such as oysters, to produce fewer eggs. New research shows that larval fish are eating nanofibers in the first days of life, raising new questions about the effects of plastics on fish populations. Stemming the Plastic Tide Once in the ocean, it is difficult—if not impossible—to retrieve plastic waste. Mechanical systems, such as Mr. Trash Wheel, a litter interceptor in Maryland’s Baltimore Harbor, can be effective at picking up large pieces of plastic, such as foam cups and food containers, from inland waters. But once plastics break down into microplastics and drift throughout the water column in the open ocean, they are virtually impossible to recover. The solution is to prevent plastic waste from entering rivers and seas in the first place, many scientists and conservationists—including the National Geographic Society—say. This could be accomplished with improved waste management systems and recycling, better product design that takes into account the short life of disposable packaging, and reduction in manufacturing of unnecessary single-use plastics.

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• Plastic Pollution Essay

Essay on Plastic Pollution

Plastic waste makes its way from our homes and offices to landfills and bodies of water, causing contamination. For the sake of health and the environment, it is important to properly dispose of such plastic waste and to reduce its widespread use. Here we have provided both a Long and Short essay on plastic pollution for students of Class 1 to 12.

Students can refer to these plastic pollution essays in English to gain some insights on the topic as well as a reference for writing their essays.

Long Essay on Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution is becoming more of a global problem. Governments, foundations, and some social media organizations are all attempting to raise awareness about this issue. Plastic goods are commonly used in industry because they are more effective and less costly than other materials.

Plastic, on the other hand, triggers a slew of environmental issues. Plastic pollution has several negative effects on our climate, but the three most important are ocean pollution, land pollution, and food pollution.

Plastic pollution is wreaking havoc on the oceans, and it's getting worse every year. Some governments are imposing strict regulations to discourage the use of plastic goods so that people are aware of the effect of plastic waste on the environment. As a result, action must be taken to address this issue before it is too late.

Plastics come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they are commonly used in our everyday lives. Today, it's difficult to find a substance that isn't made of plastic. Thermosets, also known as thermoplastics, are used in several products.

The following are a few examples of plastic objects that people typically use in their daily lives:

PET fabric and polyester condensers.

Plastic tapes–fabrics, garments, curtains, carpets, conveyors, mouldings, tarpaulins, etc. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)–used in water bottles, tubes, detergent bottles, food trays in microwaves.

PET fabric and polyester condensers, LCDs, and plastic tapes–fabrics, clothes, curtains, carpets, conveyors, mouldings have frequently broken FAQor or wall corsets made of polyvinyl chloride, automobile instrument boards, electrical wiring sheaths, games, syringes, cloth covers, window frames, and other high-density polyethene building materials Plastic bags, trash bags, prescription bottles, empty food containers, bottles, and milk bottle liners are all examples of items that can be recycled.

While it might seem that addressing chemical waste issues is as simple as recycling or washing empty bottles, the reality is that polluting plastic can vary in size from large to small.

Even if you don't want it on those products, plastic is all around us. Milk boxes are stuffed with cardboard, water bottles are strewn around, and some items can also contain small plastic pieces. Chemical pollutants are more likely to enter the environment and cause harm each time one of these items is discarded or swept away.

Plastic is one of the many widely available but overused items in today's world due to its low cost. When burned in the open, this does not decompose quickly and pollutes the underlying soil or groundwater.

Commercial fisheries are an unavoidable requirement in many parts of the world, but many people consume fish daily. Nonetheless, this industry has culminated in a variety of solutions to the problem of plastic pollution in the oceans. Plastic is often used in the nets used by certain large-scale troll operations. Second, they spend a lot of time submerged in water, where they can freely release contaminants, but they are frequently dissolved or killed, leaving them to live wherever they land. It not only destroys and threatens native animals, but it also allows chemicals to swim away and contaminate nearby fish.

The majority of the items are made of plastic, but most of the materials are not biodegradable, making disposal difficult. There were no natural methods in place to recycle non-biodegradable plastics. It cannot be recycled or left to starve in the manner in which traditional waste is discarded or spilt.

Also, reuse does not reduce steel use because it recycles existing plastics in a new shape. In a variety of ways, the method of paper recycling can result in the release of plastic allergens.

Short Plastic Pollution Essay in English

Plastic waste has long-term social, economic, and ecotoxicological effects. Entanglement, swallowing, and starvation are some of the physical effects on sea life. Chemical influence: the accumulation of residual chemical contaminants like PCBs and DDT.

It's easy to see how this amount of oil, which isn't meant to penetrate, can harm the environment over time, causing long-term problems for plants, animals, and humans. The following are a few of the major long-term consequences of pollution:

Upsets the Flow of Food - Polluting materials, which come in smaller and larger dimensions, impact even the tiniest species on the earth, such as plankton. When these species become contaminated as a result of plastic ingestion, it poses a threat to larger animals that depend on them for food. Any move further along the food supply chain can cause a slew of problems. Furthermore, it means that plastic is present in the fish that so many people consume daily.

Groundwater Pollution - Chemicals are released into the soil and leak into groundwater, resulting in groundwater pollution (also known as groundwater contamination). Such a type of water pollution may also occur naturally as a result of the presence of a minor and undesirable component, contaminant, or impurity in underground water, in which case it is more likely to be referred to as waste rather than pollution. Plastics are responsible for almost all the waste and pollution that pollutes the world's oceans. It will have devastating effects for a variety of marine animals, with repercussions for those that consume fish or other sea life for food, such as humans.

Land Pollution - Once dumped in landfills, the plastic reacts with water or forms toxic chemicals. If these pollutants flow deep into the water, they degrade its efficiency. The stench wafts through the litter and transports waste from one place to the next. They can also become entrapped in posts, traffic lights, trees, walls, houses, and other structures, as well as predators that may arrive in the area and suffocate to death.

Air Pollution - Air pollution appears to be a mix of solid particles and gases in the atmosphere. Pollutants from automobiles, plants, smoke, pollen, and mould spores can all be stored as particulate matter. Ozone is a chemical that contributes significantly to urban air pollution. Smog is the term for when ozone causes air pollution. Some of the toxins in the air are poisonous.

Plastic trash disposal that isn't done properly would have a huge environmental effect. To ensure that the environment remains free of plastic waste, waste disposal using green technologies and proper waste management must be strictly controlled. The preservation of the environment from rising plastic contamination is the responsibility of every human being.

Causes of Plastic Pollution

Plastic can be found in everything from milk cartons to water bottles. Plastics are inexpensive, simple to manufacture, and extremely durable. Toxic contaminants have a greater probability of infiltrating the environment and causing harm every time one of these plastic objects is disposed of or rinsed down the drain.

It is one of the most commonly available and overused items in the world today because it is less expensive. Demand for low-cost plastics is increasing because of rising urbanization and population increase.

Because they're so inexpensive, they're also easily discarded. When burned in the open air, it does not degrade quickly and pollutes the ground and air nearby.

Waste is frequently carried by the winds. Plastic, because it is lightweight, is carried away by gentle winds and washed into sewers, rivers, streams and, eventually, the oceans. Natural disasters, such as floods, should also be taken into account as sources of plastic pollution.

Commercial fishing is a necessary economic industry in many regions of the world, but it has contributed to the problem of plastic pollution in the oceans in several ways. Plastic nets are commonly utilized in certain large-scale fishing activities. They are frequently broken apart or misplaced and can rot wherever they fall. Marine animals become entangled in nets and/or ingest the poisonous particles.

FAQs on Plastic Pollution Essay

1. What do we Mean by Plastic Pollution?

Plastic Pollution occurs when synthetic plastic goods accumulate in the atmosphere to the point that they pose a threat to wildlife and their ecosystems, as well as human populations.

2. What are the Ways in Which we can Avoid/Control Plastic Pollution?

The reality is that the only way to fix this problem is for people and businesses all over the world to agree to and enforce pollution-reduction policies. The best plastic pollution solutions to control and avoid it are listed below.

Shop Friendly - Plastic bags have become a daily convenience, but they can be easily replaced with plastic bags, some of which are elegantly structured and lightweight. Simply add up how many things you typically carry out of a store and divide by the number of times you shop there. It's a substantial sum of money! Take a bag and, if you have any, just use plastic bags as much as you can.

Get Rid of Bottled Water - Drinking plenty of water is recommended every day, and giant water bottles are becoming a popular way to stay hydrated during the day. Furthermore, some of these are only licenced for individual use, meaning that any full container will end up in the trash. Several companies are now selling recycled water bottles as a substitute, reducing plastic waste and the availability of leaky bottles.

Reduce the Usage of To-go Containers - You'd be amazed to hear how much plastic is used in the manufacture and storage of food containers. Though the cafe's drink cup is documented and usually wrapped in acrylic for padding (for either a cup of coffee or a piece of cardboard to see what's going on). Plastic food plates, lids, and cookware can all be quickly replaced with recycled materials, resulting in a substantial reduction in waste from only one meal.

3. Why is plastic pollution on the rise?

The accumulation of plastic in the environment causes plastic pollution. Primary plastics, such as cigarette butts and bottle caps, are classified as primary, whereas secondary plastics, which emerge from the decomposition of primary plastics, are classified as secondary. Its world production is increasing at an exponential rate. Plastic pollution is on the rise because of people's persistent need to use plastic. Its outstanding features, including simplicity of shape, low cost, and mechanical resistance, all contribute to its success. It is both inexpensive and readily available. Furthermore, plastic does not decompose in the soil or water; it persists for over a century, contributing to an increase in plastic pollution. Plastic is practically everywhere because it is the suitable material for packaging. Natural disasters, such as floods, should be considered plastic pollution sources.

4. How does plastic pollution affect the environment?

Plastic pollution has a range of effects on the environment. Plastic stays in the ecosystem for a long time, causing a hazard to wildlife and spreading pollutants. Plastic also majorly contributes to global warming. Almost all plastics are made from chemicals used in the manufacturing of fossil fuels, which contribute to climate change. To begin with, it pollutes our water. So, there is a scarcity of clean water and everyone's needs for clean water can’t be fulfilled. It is also eroding our soils and fields. Disease-carrying insects are accumulating in plastic landfills, and soil fertility is worsening. Plastics are also released into the atmosphere when they are burned in incinerators, releasing greenhouse gases and hazardous air pollution. Plastic has an impact on all organisms in the food chain, from microscopic plankton to whales.

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Vedantu has a good collection of long and short essays to help students from Class 1 – 12. Vedantu's online educational platform will provide you with a comprehensive learning experience. You will be able to chat with some of the instructors with adequate expertise to coach you for school exams, competitive exams, and so on through our live interactive teaching sessions. In addition to coaching classes, we provide revision notes for grades 6 to 12. You can also easily download them and access them as per your convenience. Students who are looking for good quality study material, can download that from Vedantu website in PDF format with no extra cost. You can also get more resources for free by downloading the Vedantu app.

How Single Use Plastics Are Hurting Our Oceans and Warming Our Planet

November 1, 2023

Plastic is everywhere. It is in the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. Plastic is not only polluting our bodies and our oceans but contributing to the devastating impacts of climate change. Peril & Promise spoke with experts at Oceana, a nonprofit ocean conservation organization, to better understand the plastics crisis, the impact on our bodies and oceans, and what can be done to take action before it is too late.

Christy Leavitt is the Plastics Campaign Director at Oceana. 

“Almost from the moment we wake up in the morning until when we go to bed, we’re surrounded by single-use plastic, and we don’t have a choice about that. It is everywhere,” Leavitt said. 

Approximately 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic had been produced as of 2018. Due to an overabundance of cheap natural gas, production of plastic is expected to triple by 2050.

As we begin to power our homes and cars with renewable sources of energy, like solar or wind, the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries are searching for new places to sell their products. 

“[The plastics industry] is putting a lot of effort into producing more and more single-use plastic,” said Leavitt. “You see that when you go to the grocery store or to the convenience store. Almost everything that you want to purchase is packaged in plastic.” 

This increase in plastic production leads to an increase in plastic pollution. This poses a major threat to our oceans and marine life. 

An estimated 33 billion pounds of plastic enter the marine environment every year. That’s two-garbage truck’s worth of plastic that enters the ocean every minute, according to Oceana . 

Plastic pollution in our oceans has a devastating effect on aquatic animals. Some animals will consume plastic, and some will become entangled in it. 

Dr. Kim Warner, Senior Scientist at Oceana , coauthored a report in 2020 that looked at all the data available on marine mammals and sea turtles in U.S. waters that have been impacted by plastic. 

“We found nearly 1,800 cases since 2009, and 88% of these cases were species that were already threatened with extinction and protected by the Endangered Species Act,” Warner said.

Dr. Warner explained that, worldwide, plastic ingestion or entanglement has impacted more than 900 ocean species. 

What is plastic? How is it made, and how does it last for so long? 

Plastics are typically made from petroleum or gas. They’re made up of polymers: tightly connected, repeating units of molecules that are very resistant to degradation. 

Because of plastic’s longevity, it breaks down into microplastics: Tiny plastic particles smaller than 0.2 inches in diameter. This breakdown can be caused by environmental factors, including the sun’s radiation and the ocean’s waves, according to National Geographic.  

How does the production of plastic contribute to climate change?

The production, use, and disposal of plastic creates significant greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. Greenhouse gases escape from fossil fuels extracted and refined to make plastic. Fossil fuels are used to make plastic in an energy-intensive process.

“When you add together all the greenhouse gas emissions related to plastic, they are greater than the emissions of every single country except for the U.S., China, India and Russia … If plastic were a country, it would be the fifth largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world,” Leavitt said.  

How does plastic affect human health, animal health, and the environment – particularly our oceans? 

Humans are eating, drinking, and breathing microplastics. Scientists are still studying how we might be affected by the plastics that are making their way into our food, water, and air, but what they do know should cause alarm. 

Dr. Warner highlighted that The United Nations has calculated there are 13,000 chemicals that are used to make plastic. We know that a quarter of those are hazardous to human health. Half of them haven’t even been tested yet, so we do not yet know what they do to human health. She explained, “They’re trade secrets. They don’t have to tell us what chemicals they’ve added to the plastic that we’re using.”

Dr. Warner said that we know much more about the harms from the chemicals that are added to plastic than we do about the microplastics that end up in our bodies. She described a host of known diseases from exposure to these chemicals including harm to our reproductive system, cardiovascular health, kidneys and nervous systems. 

Plastic in the oceans may also interfere with the ocean’s capacity to absorb and sequester carbon dioxide, thus creating another pathway through which plastic pollution contributes to and accelerates climate change.       

Microplastics concentrate on the very thin surface layer of the ocean. Dr. Warner said, “The oceans have been taking up 30 to 50% of all of this carbon dioxide that we’ve emitted. So, if we disrupt the ability of the ocean to do this, it will just make climate change that much worse.”

“We know from experiments that plastic could affect their [aquatic animal’s] survival, their behavior, metabolism, reproduction. It could make all of these things worse, including the fish that we eat. If fish behavior changes, they can’t avoid predators as rapidly and have problems reproducing. There’ll be fewer fish,” Dr. Warner added.  

What are the environmental justice implications of plastic? 

Leavitt emphasized that plastic pollution is an environmental justice issue both in the U.S. and around the world. The U.S. plays a significant role in the global plastic pollution problem. According to a 2022 study, in 2016, the U.S. produced 42 million tons of plastic waste.

Leavitt explained that plastic disproportionately affects people living in “fenceline communities,” which according to the Climate Reality Project are people who live directly next to highly polluting facilities , including large manufacturing facilities or fossil fuel infrastructure. These facilities pollute the air, water and soil of the nearby neighborhoods, which oftentimes are historically marginalized neighborhoods with residents of lower incomes, or Black, Latino or Indigenous people. 

“Reducing the production of so much unnecessary single-use plastic and plastic pollution is definitely an environmental justice issue, and our governments have the responsibility to protect people, as well as our oceans and the planet,” Leavitt said.  But a poll from Oceana released in February of 2023 found that 82% of American voters – including both Democrats and Republicans – support protecting fenceline neighborhoods that are most affected by the pollution from nearby plastic production facilities.

Solutions: Reduction versus recycling .

A meager 9% of all the plastic waste ever generated has been recycled. This is an inadequate solution to the massive crisis. Reduction of plastic is needed. 

“The plastics industry is now pushing ‘chemical recycling’ as the solution to the plastic pollution crisis. Rather than being the solution, this is a dirty process that uses heat to turn chemicals into fuel, chemicals, or more plastic, and creates toxic emissions, accelerates climate change, and harms nearby communities,” Leavitt said. 

“When your bathtub is overflowing, you don’t run for a mop before you turn off the faucet. Recycling is the mop. We need to first turn off the faucet.”   Jacqueline Savitz, Chief Policy Officer at Oceana 

Bans on single-use plastics, including bags, foam food ware, and straws have been implemented in various cities and states across the country. Businesses are offering plastic-free options and providing refillable and reusable alternatives to single-use. And individuals are making choices on a daily basis to stop their use of single-use plastics.

“For young people, one thing that they can do is work to change the policies around single-use plastics at their high school or at their college. That is a great place to make change as well,” Leavitt said.  

In September 2023, The Department of the Interior released plans to phase out single-use plastics from national parks and other public lands managed by the department. 

Leavitt and Dr. Warner shared some bills and policies to look out for:

• The Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act
• The Reducing Waste in the National Parks Act
• The Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act

Both Leavitt and Dr. Warner agree that the single most effective step is to call your legislators and speak up about your concerns on this issue.  

Learn how to contact your legislator here .

“We made our way without it. And we can imagine a future where we do so again. It’s not rocket science and it’s going back to a lot of common sense solutions like using reusable and refillable containers that we’ve known for ages,” Dr. Warner said.   

She added, “We have to decouple growth with more plastic use in the world and realize how we need to grow our future.”  

This multimedia essay was created by Peril and Promise in partnership with Oceana. 

Peril and Promise is a public media initiative from The WNET Group, reporting on the human stories of climate change and its solutions. Major funding for Peril and Promise is provided by Dr. P. Roy Vagelos and Diana T. Vagelos with additional funding from Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III and the Estate of Worthington Mayo-Smith.

Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one-quarter of the world’s wild fish catch. With more than 275 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, oil and plastic pollution, and the killing of threatened species like turtles, whales, and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal, every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Visit  Oceana.org  to learn more.

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Essay on Beat Plastic Pollution: Causes, Consequences, and Mitigation Strategies

• Updated on  
• Feb 12, 2024

Essay on Beat Plastic Pollution: Plastic is everywhere. From our clean bedrooms to large ocean bodies, our life is surrounded by plastic. Did you know that the world annually produces around 35 crore tonnes of plastic waste?

In the modern world, plastic has become one of the major sources of pollution. Plastic is a non-biodegradable component, which takes hundreds of years to decompose. Most of the used plastic ends up in landfills, which releases toxic chemicals into the soil and water. The burning of plastic causes air pollution, as it releases volatile organic compounds. 

Essay on beat plastic pollution is one of the most common essay topics assigned to school and college students. An essay on beat plastic pollution must cover the causes of plastic pollution, its consequences, and mitigation strategies. Below, we have provided all the details to add to an essay on beating plastic pollution.

Table of Contents

• 1 What is Plastic Pollution?
• 2.1 1. Single Use Plastic
• 2.2 2. Lack of Recycling Infrastructure
• 2.3 3. Improper Disposal
• 2.4 5. Overconsumption of Plastic Products
• 2.5 6. Inadequate Regulations
• 3.1 1. Water Pollution
• 3.2 2. Soil Contamination
• 3.3 3. Harm to Wildlife
• 3.4 4. Microplastic Contamination
• 3.5 5. Disruption of Ecosystem
• 3.6 6. Risk to Human Health
• 4 How to Beat Plastic Pollution?

Master the art of essay writing with our blog on How to Write an Essay in English .

What is Plastic Pollution?

The accumulation of plastic substances and objects in our natural environment, like waterbodies, soil, etc. is known as plastic pollution. This pollution hurts the natural environment, our resources, and even on animals around us. According to a UN report, more than 100 million marine animals die every year due to plastic waste alone. Some of the common plastic wastes are cigarette butts, food wrappers, plastic bottles, plastic grocery bags, plastic straws, etc. 

Also Read: Types of Water Pollution

Causes of Plastic Pollution

Several causes can be cited as reasons for plastic pollution. It is our improper disposal and management of plastic materials that causes plastic pollution. Plastic is often called ‘unnatural’ as it is created by humans and negatively affects the environment. Plastic is cheap and its elements are in abundance. 

1. Single Use Plastic

It is the major cause of plastic pollution. Most of the plastic produced is used only once. Hence, named single-use plastic. The billions of plastic bags, bottles, food packaging and trays produced end up in landfills and water bodies. Even if we try our best to stop this single-use plastic, it will still end up in the same place. 

2. Lack of Recycling Infrastructure

In developing and underdeveloped countries, there is a lack of plastic recycling infrastructure, which threatens the environment. These countries lack the necessary infrastructure for plastic waste disposal, which results in landfills and water pollution. 

3. Improper Disposal

Improper disposal of plastic waste affects our food chain. Inadequate waste management and improper disposal of plastic items are major contributors to plastic pollution. Littering, dumping plastics in landfills, and improper disposal practices can result in plastic entering water bodies, soil, and the air.

5. Overconsumption of Plastic Products

Since its invention, plastic demand has always reached a new peak, driven by factors like population growth and consumer preferences, leading to higher production and disposal of plastics. This contributes to the accumulation of plastic waste in various ecosystems.

6. Inadequate Regulations

Not everybody considers plastic a threat to the environment. That’s why, there are weak or insufficient regulations on the production, use, and disposal of plastic products. Lack of enforcement and oversight allows for improper disposal and management practices.

Consequences of Plastic Pollution

Our environment is not the only victim of plastic pollution. Our ecosystems, wildlife and our health are also affected by plastic waste. Plastic chokes marine wildlife, killing millions of marine animals every year. Plastic production is energy-intensive as the machines used require a significant amount of energy.

1. Water Pollution

Every year, around 14 million tonnes of plastic waste ends up in our oceans, damaging the marine environment and animals. The accumulation of plastic waste in water bodies can have long-term ecological consequences.

2. Soil Contamination

Improper disposal of plastic waste results in soil contamination. Plastics release harmful chemicals as they break down, affecting soil quality and potentially harming plants, animals, and microorganisms.

3. Harm to Wildlife

Domestic animals are often fed food entangled in plastic items. In India, a large number of cows and buffalos die as most people often have their food wrapped in plastic bags. The ingestion of plastic can lead to internal injuries, blockages, malnutrition, and death. Marine animals, in particular, are at risk as they can easily ingest or become entangled in plastic debris.

4. Microplastic Contamination

Although plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose, the larger plastic items break down into smaller particles called microplastics. Microplastics can contaminate water bodies, soil, and air, posing risks to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. They can also enter the food chain, potentially affecting human health.

5. Disruption of Ecosystem

Plastic pollution disrupts ecosystems by affecting the balance of various species and their interactions. The presence of plastic debris in natural habitats can lead to changes in biodiversity, nutrient cycles, and ecosystem function. 

6. Risk to Human Health

Microplastics and the chemicals associated with plastics can enter the human food chain, primarily through the consumption of contaminated seafood and other food items. 

How to Beat Plastic Pollution?

Remember the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle strategy? Here’s a little different approach introduced by the United Nations Environment Protocol (UNEP): Reuse, Recycle, and Reorient. Through this approach, the UNEP has planned to reduce plastic waste by 80% in the next two decades. 

We as plastic producers and consumers must take environmentally friendly actions and effectively implement this approach in our daily lives. 

• Firstly, we must eliminate unnecessary plastic, such as plastic packaging, reusing refillable water bottles, and every single-use plastic item. 
• Reducing plastic production will be the next step. We must advocate and support policies that regulate the plastic production, use, and disposal of plastics. Encouraging local representatives can greatly reduce overall plastic production and promote anti-plastic pollution measures
• Promoting and implementing recycling programs and guidelines will help reduce the overall production of plastic waste. It can be done by practising the separation of recyclables from non-recyclables and ensuring their proper disposal.
• Identification of which plastic item is useful and which is not must be done. Recycling is a great way to beat plastic pollution, but it alone cannot achieve the desired goals. 
• Avoiding microplastics can help in combating plastic pollution. We must choose personal care products that do not contain microbeads. The plastic clothes are made of synthetic fabrics, which shed microfibers during washing.

To eliminate plastic pollution, we must unite as one and take immediate action. We only have one home and we must do everything in our power to save it from such harmful events.

Ans: The accumulation of plastic substances and objects in our natural environment, like waterbodies, soil, etc. is known as plastic pollution. This pollution hurts the natural environment, our resources, and even on animals around us.

Ans: Plastic is everywhere. From our clean bedrooms to large ocean bodies, our life is surrounded by plastic. Did you know that the world annually produces around 35 crore tonnes of plastic waste? In the modern world, plastic has become one of the major sources of pollution. Plastic is a non-biodegradable component, which takes hundreds of years to decompose. Most of the used plastic ends up in landfills, which releases toxic chemicals into the soil and water. The burning of plastic causes air pollution, as it releases volatile organic compounds. 

Ans: Improper disposal of plastic waste results in soil contamination. Every year, around 14 million tonnes of plastic waste ends up in our oceans, damaging the marine environment and animals. In developing and underdeveloped countries, there is a lack of plastic recycling infrastructure, which threatens the environment. Plastic pollution disrupts ecosystems by affecting the balance of various species and their interactions. Microplastics and the chemicals associated with plastics can enter the human food chain, primarily through the consumption of contaminated seafood and other food items.

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Shiva Tyagi

With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

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Plastic Pollution Essay

Plastic is a synthetic polymer that can be molded into any shape and form when softened, making it easy to manufacture. Due to this property, plastic has replaced other products like wood, paper etc. Plastic has become a widely used substance. Although easy to manufacture, less expensive plastics aren’t easy to discard. Plastics are non-biodegradable, thus resulting in the accumulation of plastic, leading to plastic pollution. Here are a few sample essays on ‘plastic pollution’.

100 Words Essay On Plastic Pollution

Plastic products like bags, spoons, toys etc., are abundantly available in the market. These are easy and cheap to manufacture and, thus, are widely used. Plastics do not dissolve in water and land. It has an adverse effect when burnt. These stay on the face of the earth for years together, accumulating and increasing daily, leading to plastic pollution. Plastic harms the climate. It hurts marine life in the ocean when dumped in the water, impuring the water by releasing toxins. Plastic disposed of in soil doesn’t degrade, leading to garbage accumulation and the breeding of insects.

Tiny plastic particles mix with gasses in the air leading to smog formation. When ingested by animals from the land, these plastic particles can also result in serious illness in them. Adhering to measures will lead to prevention. People must be encouraged to use alternatives to plastics—implementation of plastic recycling.

200 Words Essay On Plastic Pollution

Plastics are easy to manufacture, cheaper than other substances and can be molded into any shape and form. These advantages have made plastic widely used and a popular substance. Easily found in our daily life, from toothbrushes to tiffin containers. Plastic can dissolve neither in water nor in the ground. Thus, leading to its accumulation which causes plastic pollution. With the increase in usage, pollution is peaking every day.

Harmful Effects | Polymers in plastics have hazardous effects on the environment impacting humanity, aquatic life, ocean, land and wildlife. This plastic doesn't dissolve in water and stays inside water bodies for a long time, resulting in the release of chemicals into the water affecting the quality of water and threatening the life of marine life in those water bodies. Similarly, plastic dumped in landfills, soil reduces soil fertility leading to poor crop quality. Additionally, this dumped waste becomes a breeding ground for insects, resulting in increased diseases among people and animals.

Prevention | To prevent these harmful effects of plastic, we need to take practical steps like reusing plastic products before discarding them or choosing biodegradable alternatives to plastics like cloth and paper. Recycling used plastics is the best way to control the harmful effects. The government should encourage people to stick to alternative plastics and start programs for recycling the existing waste. Finally, we need to create and spread awareness about plastic effects and how to overcome them among more and more people. These steps collectively can reduce plastic pollution.

500 Words Essay On Plastic Pollution

The evolution of Science and technology has revolutionized several fields leading to discoveries that have significantly impacted human life. One such discovery was plastic. Plastics, as we know them today, are a byproduct of crude oil, a subset of polymers. Plastics are known for their ability to mold in any form or shape, are lightweight, flexible, cheaper to manufacture, and sustainable.

These advantages have resulted in the unique and innovative applications of plastics in sectors ranging from healthcare, medicine, automotive, construction, aerospace and everything in between. Plastics are everywhere in our daily life, from the toothbrush we use in the morning to the switch of the light we turn off at night..

Although plastic has many advantages, successfully used in every field, it has one major disadvantage. Its nature of non-biodegradability. Any substance that cannot be naturally broken down is non-Biodegradable material. These substances cannot be decomposed, thus becoming a source of pollution, ultimately threatening the environment. Accumulation of plastic leads to plastic pollution. Plastic pollution has become one of the major global concerns.

Impact of Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution has multiple adverse effects on the climate, like ocean pollution, land pollution, food pollution, and groundwater pollution.

Every day tons of plastic dumped in water bodies don't dissolve in water, releasing toxic chemicals into the water and downgrading their purity. These items are sometimes mistaken as food by marine life, and consuming them leads to severe illness in marine life. Research shows that the death of aquatic creatures due to plastic consumption increases yearly. Plastic nets used in commercial fishing sometimes break and become submerged in the water, releasing toxic chemicals and contaminating the fish.

Human beings dispose of tons of plastics in landfills and soil, thus, polluting the land. These plastics do not dissolve in mud, eventually releasing chemicals into the soil and affecting soil quality. They also leak into the ground resulting in groundwater contamination. These plastic-filled landfills become a source of disease-causing insects and mosquitoes.

Polluting material comes in all dimensions and is present in the air. These particles form particulate matter leading to ozone and smog, which are significant causes of Air Pollution.

Finally, plastics lead to food flow disruption, i.e. contamination of tiny species due to plastic ingestion, which poses a threat to larger animals which consume them, leading to myriads of problems.

Steps To Curb Its Effects

If not handled carefully, plastic pollution can have catastrophic effects on us. We must take practical and immediate steps to control it.

One of the main steps is the implementation of the 4Rs.

Refuse | Avoid single-use plastics. Choose alternatives like cloth or paper bags.

Reuse | Reuse plastic as long as possible before discarding it.

Reduce | Limit or reduce the use of plastics.

Recycle | Recycling plastic products into other valuable products.

Apart from following the above steps, we must educate the masses about plastics and create awareness among them and also implement an effective waste disposal system. Preventing plastic pollution is every human's responsibility. The combined effort and careful measurements by everyone can vastly reduce plastic pollution to a large extent.

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Essay on Plastic Pollution

Students are often asked to write an essay on Plastic Pollution in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Plastic Pollution

Introduction.

Plastic pollution is a global problem. It refers to the accumulation of plastic waste in our environment, which negatively impacts wildlife, wildlife habitat, and humans.

Causes of Plastic Pollution

Effects of plastic pollution.

Plastic pollution can be harmful to animals and humans. Animals often mistake plastic for food, which can lead to health problems. For humans, it can affect the quality of air, soil, and water.

Solutions to Plastic Pollution

To reduce plastic pollution, we can recycle, reuse, and reduce our plastic use. We can also participate in clean-up activities and advocate for laws to limit plastic production and use.

250 Words Essay on Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution, a critical environmental issue, is escalating at an alarming rate. It represents the excessive accumulation of plastic products in the environment, leading to adverse effects on wildlife, wildlife habitat, and humans.

The Ubiquity of Plastic

The versatility, durability, and low cost of plastic have made it an integral part of our lives. However, these same properties contribute to its persistence in the environment. Single-use plastic items, in particular, such as bags, bottles, and packaging, are major culprits.

Environmental Impact

Plastic pollution has devastating effects on the environment. It chokes waterways, pollutes oceans, and harms wildlife. Many animals mistake plastic for food, causing starvation and death. Microplastics, tiny fragments of plastic less than 5mm in size, pose a particularly insidious threat. They are ingested by marine life, entering the food chain and ultimately being consumed by humans.

Human Health Risks

The health effects of plastic pollution on humans are increasingly becoming apparent. Chemicals leached from plastics, such as Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, are known endocrine disruptors. Moreover, microplastics in the food chain have potential implications for human health, although the full extent of these effects is still under investigation.

500 Words Essay on Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution represents a significant environmental crisis in the contemporary world. It is a global issue that transcends national boundaries, impacting ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. Despite growing awareness, plastic pollution continues to intensify due to our reliance on single-use plastic items and inadequate waste management systems.

The Scale of the Problem

Plastics, due to their durability and slow degradation rate, have become a persistent pollutant. Approximately 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic have been produced since the 1950s, and around 60% of that plastic has ended up in either a landfill or the natural environment. In the oceans alone, it is estimated that there are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris. The scale of the problem is daunting and poses a significant challenge to global environmental sustainability.

Impacts on Marine Life

Marine life is particularly vulnerable to plastic pollution. Sea creatures often mistake plastic debris for food, leading to ingestion and entanglement. This results in physical harm, starvation, and often death. Furthermore, plastic debris acts as a transport medium for invasive species and pathogens, disrupting delicate marine ecosystems.

Impacts on Human Health

The threat of plastic pollution extends to human health. Microplastics, tiny particles resulting from the breakdown of larger plastics, can enter the food chain and human bodies. These particles can carry toxic chemicals, which may accumulate over time and pose potential health risks. The full extent of these risks is not yet fully understood, underscoring the need for further research.

Addressing Plastic Pollution

Lastly, there is a need for more research to understand the full impacts of plastic pollution and to develop innovative solutions. This includes the development of biodegradable plastics and technologies to clean up plastic waste from the environment.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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The plastic pollution crisis

Plastics only began to be produced in large quantities following the second world war – but plastic pollution has since become one of the most serious threats humanity faces. By 2015, 60% of all plastic ever produced had become plastic waste, and in today’s world, plastic waste is ubiquitous – it’s in the air, in the soil, in freshwater, and in the sea.  

Much of the world’s plastic waste – from large items down to barely visible microplastic particles – ends up in the ocean, where it can persist for hundreds of years. Here it has negative effects on marine life of all kinds, and ultimately causes harm to humans too. Up to 12 million tonnes of plastic debris is entering the global ocean every year:  2  the UN calls it ‘a planetary crisis’.

The highly populated, semi-enclosed Mediterranean basin is one of the global hotspots for marine plastic pollution. Urgent and wide-ranging action is required to radically reduce the amounts of plastic that reach the sea and bring the situation under control – but for this to happen, we need to build as full a picture as possible of what’s actually going on.

 Where does ocean plastic come from? 

Overall, 80% of marine plastic debris comes from land, and 20% is produced by ocean-based sources such as fishing, shipping and aquaculture.  3  Much of it is comprised of industrial and domestic waste from metropolitan and urban areas with poorly managed collection and disposal systems. Rubbish finds its way into rivers and other waterways, sometimes through storm drains and sewage outfalls, and these take it all the way to the sea. It’s estimated that 94% of the plastic pollution that enters the Mediterranean comes in the form of macroplastics, but microplastic pollution is significant too. Land-based sources of microplastics include agricultural polyethylene sheets that fragment from weathering, biosolids and sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants, and grey water from washing clothes made with synthetic fibres.  4  Sewage entering municipal treatment systems is high in microfibres from textiles, microplastics from personal care products, and degraded consumer products.

Between 80 and 90 percent of microplastics entering treatment systems remain in residual sewage sludge. This sludge is often used as fertilizer in agriculture, resulting in plastic being deposited on agricultural fields where it can remain for long periods of time – or be washed into the rivers and out to sea. Based on a recent study, microplastics can persist in soils for more than 100 years, due to low light and oxygen conditions 5 .    

The plastics life cycle

Plastic pollution is a design, production, consumption and disposal challenge that must be tackled across plastic’s entire life cycle. Many factors contribute to the issue, most obviously unsustainable consumption patterns, non-existent or ineffective legislation, inefficient waste management systems, and a lack of coordination between different sectors.

The impacts of plastic pollution on biodiversity and human health

Plastic pollution has adverse impacts on ocean ecosystems, the integrity of food supplies, and people’s livelihoods.

Entanglement and ingestion are the most common hazards for marine species, almost all of which – from microscopic zooplankton to the largest marine mammals – will come into contact with plastic waste during their lives. Entanglement in plastic ropes, lines and discarded fishing gear injures and kills all kinds of marine animals; while ingestion at every stage of the food chain can cause fatalities or have major impacts on physiological functions including nutrition, growth, behaviour and reproduction.  

 Once microplastics and nanoplastics are ingested by marine animals they become part of the food web, and can ultimately enter the human food chain.  

Confronting the issue: a harmonised methodology and a global agreement

Plastic leakage is a complex issue, involving multiple sources and actors, and addressing it requires stakeholders to join forces and intervene at various levels. Before this can happen, though, countries and cities face an initial knowledge gap: they need to establish the magnitude of the challenge they face, and gain an understanding of the processes involved.  Resolution No. 6 on marine plastic litter and micro-plastics  adopted at the  Fourth Session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-4)  in 2019 highlighted the importance of a h armonised methodology to measure plastic flows and leakage along the value chain, and generate actionable data.

 Once these facts are established, countries need practical and legislative tools to address the root sources of the problem. With this in mind, the  Fifth UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5)  created an expert group on marine litter and microplastics. The group is “reviewing the present situation and analysing the effectiveness of existing and potential response options related to marine plastic litter and microplastics”. It developed and signed “a new global agreement , to provide a legal framework of global response and to facilitate national responses especially for those countries with limited resources and capacities that could contain either legally binding and/or non-binding elements”.

The  Programme for the Assessment and Control of Marine Pollution in the Mediterranean (MEDPOL)  of the   United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)   is responsible for the implementation of the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP) for the Pollution and Litter and Noise clusters.   MED POL supports the Contracting Parties in the formulation and implementation of pollution control and prevention policies as well as regulatory measures. MED POL also undertakes regular activities to promote capacity-building and provides technical assistance on monitoring and assessment, implementation and enforcement. Its purpose is to assist Mediterranean countries in the implementation of three major protocols of the  Barcelona Convention:

•  The Protocol for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution from Land-Based Sources 
•  The Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft 
•  The Protocol on the Prevention of Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal

The Mediterranean: plastic pollution hotspot

The Mediterranean Sea is a global hotspot for plastic pollution, its semi-enclosed basin concentrating marine litter at levels comparable to those found in the five subtropical gyres  7  ,the most notorious being the ‘Great Garbage Patch’ of the North Pacific.

The need for knowledge: PlastiMed project

In order to improve knowledge of the origins, distribution and leakage of plastic waste in the Mediterranean, a quantitative study on the impact of microplastics in the Mediterranean ecosystem was conducted. The research was based on samples collected during two main expeditions,  ExpeditionMED  and  Tara Méditerranée 2014  . In the latter, 75,000 microplastic particles were collected and analysed, making it the largest study of this kind in the Mediterranean to date. Following the expeditions, a database of Mediterranean plastic polymer types, including their geographical distribution, was completed, and a modelling study of the circulation of plastic debris in the Mediterranean was developed.

 The recent IUCN report   Mare Plasticum :  The Mediterranean   provides information about the quantity of plastics leaking into the Mediterranean Sea every year, also highlighting the countries and cities with the highest plastic leakage rates. This map is a combination of both studies, merging information gathered through fieldwork and desk-based analysis.

Taking action

The  Beyond Plastic Med  (BeMed) initiative was launched in 2019 to develop and support a network of stakeholders committed to implementing concrete solutions for the prevention of plastic pollution in the Mediterranean. By raising awareness of the issue, bringing together companies and organisations who can contribute to the project’s aims, and spreading best practices in the field, BeMed is an important umbrella for much of the work going on in the Mediterranean today.

In 2019, IUCN-Med launched the   Plastic Waste-Free Islands Mediterranean   project, as part of its global   Close the Plastic Tap   programme. The initiative’s overarching goal is to drive the circular economy agenda forward and to reduce plastic waste generation and leakage from islands. The programme of work focuses on tackling plastic pollution at its source by engaging a wide range of stakeholders – including governments, industries and society – and on addressing plastic pollution knowledge gaps. 

Surfrider Europe has been advocating for enhanced environmental policies to tackle plastic pollution and raising awareness among citizens to change their behaviour.

Tara Foundation conducted a 2019 expedition along nine major European rivers to research the origins and flux of microplastic waste, using its scientific expertise to raise awareness and educate the general public, as well as mobilise political decision-makers at the highest level.

In 2017, Région Sud (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur) established the Zero Plastic Waste Pledge to enable local authorities, companies and associations to commit to reducing plastic waste at sea and on land. Région Sud and the IUCN signed a   joint declaration   at the World Conservation Congress, reflecting strong engagement and the beginning of coordinated action against plastic pollution.

Co-developed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the IUCN, the   National Guidance on Plastic Pollution Hotspotting and Shaping Action   contributes to filling gaps in knowledge. It provides a methodological framework and practical tools applicable at national level. Beyond the quantification and qualification of plastic pollution, the guidance offers an effective interface between science-based assessments and policy-making. The guidance maps plastic leakage and its impacts across the value chain by collecting and analysing data on plastic production, consumption, waste management and disposal, and prioritises hotspots for action. It enables governments to collaborate with key stakeholders to identify and implement corresponding interventions and instruments in these hotspots, ensuring that action takes place in the areas that need it most. Once decision-makers are equipped with reliable knowledge through use of the guidance, they can set targets, agree and implement actions, and monitor progress.

• Geyer, R., Jambeck, J. R., & Law, K. L. (2017). Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made.  Science advances ,  3 (7), e1700782.  DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1700782 
• Boucher, J., & Friot, D. (2017).    Primary microplastics in the oceans: a global evaluation of sources    (Vol. 43). Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. 43pp.
• Mendenhall, E. (2018). Oceans of plastic: a research agenda to propel policy development. Marine Policy, 96 , 291-298.  DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2018.05.005 
• Horton, A. A., Walton, A., Spurgeon, D. J., Lahive, E., & Svendsen, C. (2017). Microplastics in freshwater and terrestrial environments: evaluating the current understanding to identify the knowledge gaps and future research priorities.  Science of the total environment ,  586 , 127-141.  DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.190 
• Azoulay, D., Villa, P., Arellano, Y., Gordon, M. F., Moon, D., Miller, K. A., & Thompson, K. (2019).    Plastic & health: the hidden costs of a plastic planet .  Geneva: CIEL;
• Peng, L., Fu, D., Qi, H., Lan, C. Q., Yu, H., & Ge, C. (2020). Micro-and nano-plastics in marine environment: Source, distribution and threats—A review.  Science of the Total Environment ,  69 8.  DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134254 
• Cózar, A., Sanz-Martín, M., Martí, E., González-Gordillo, J. I., Ubeda, B., Gálvez, J. Á., ... & Duarte, C. M. (2015). Plastic accumulation in the Mediterranean Sea.  PloS one ,  10 (4).  DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0121762 
• Kedzierski, M., Palazot, M., Soccalingame, L., Falcou-Préfol, M., Gorsky, G., Galgani, F., ... & Pedrotti, M. L. (2022). Chemical composition of microplastics floating on the surface of the Mediterranean Sea.  Marine pollution bulletin ,  174 , 113284.  DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113284 
• Pedrotti Maria Luiza, Lomard Fabien, Baudena Alberto, Galgani François, Kedzierski Mikaël, Elineau Amanda, Henry Maryvonne, Bruzeau Stéphane, Reverdin Gilles, Boss Emmanuel, & Gorsky Gabriel. (2021). Tara Mediterranean surface plastic quantitative dataset [Data set]. Zenodo.  DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5538238  .
• Boucher, J., Billard, G., Simeone, E. and Sousa, J. (2020). The marine plastic footprint. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. viii+69 pp.
• Boucher, J. & Bilard, G. (2020). The Mediterranean: Mare plasticum. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. x+62 pp.

Acknowledgements

This web story has been edited by IUCN Med and its partners, with financial support from the   Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation   .

Produced and designed by   Swim2Birds   &   IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation.

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Essay on plastic pollution: top 4 essays.

Read this essay to learn about plastic pollution. After reading this essay you will learn about: 1.   Introduction to Plastic Pollution 2. Causes of Plastic Pollution 3. Effects 4. Control.

Essay # 1. Introduction to Plastic Pollution:

In the last decade, plastic has affected the health and life of human beings very badly. Some incidents have attracted the attention of the whole world and put a question mark about the use of plastic in daily life.

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Plastic, the wonder material that we use for everything and which pollutes our environment, is perhaps the most harmful of trash dumped by mariners and sea-goers in sea because it does not readily break down in nature. In-fact, the plastic that goes over the side today may still be around in hundreds of years to foul up the fishing gear, boat propellers, and beaches of future generations.

Careless disposal of plastic can have dire consequences. A plastic bag looks like a tasty jellyfish to an indiscriminate feeder like the sea turtle, but plastic is indigestible. It can choke, block the intestines of, or cause infection in those animals that consume it.

A plastic bag can also clog an outboard engine’s cooling system. Lost or discarded monofilament fishing line can foul propellers, destroying oil seals and lower units of engines, or it can become an entangling web for fish, seabirds, and marine mammals.

According to the Centre for Marine Conservation, over 25,000 pieces of fishing line were collected from U.S. beaches during the 1996 annual beach clean-up and at least 40% of all animal entanglements reported during the clean-ups involved fishing line.

Every day, more and more plastic is accumulating in our oceans. Recreational boaters are not the only group that improperly disposes off plastic refuse at sea. Plastics also enter the marine environment from sewage outfalls, merchant shipping, commercial fishing operations, and beachgoers.

In the middle stage, it is very flexible and can be given any shape depending on temperature and pressure. In practices, urea, formaldehyde, poly ethylene, polystyrene, polycithylcholide, phenoloic compounds and other substances are used in the preparation of plastics pollution.

Now-a-days the most popular plastic pollution is caused is polyvinyl chloride (P.V.C.). When any food material or blood is stored in the said plastic containers then gradually the soluble chemical gets dissolved in them causing death due to cancer and other skin diseases.

Polyvinyl chloride has also been found to destroy the fertility of the animals and their respiratory systems. When mixed with water, it causes paralysis and also damages bones and causes irritation to the skin.

Recently U.S.A. has banned the use of P.V.C. plastic in space apparatus and in food containers (as chemicals get dissolved in the food). India should immediately ban the use of P.V.C. in water pipes, food and medicine containers to save the lives of millions who are already suffering from different types of ailments.

Essay # 2. Causes of Plastic Pollution:

Plastics are used because these are easy and cheap to make and they can last a long time. Unfortunately these very useful qualities make plastic a huge pollution problem. Because the plastic is cheap it gets discarded easily and its persistence in the environment can do great harm. Unbanization has added to the plastic pollution in concentrated form in cities.

Plastic thrown on land can enter the drainage lines and choke them resulting into floods in local areas in cities as was experienced in Mumbai, India in 1998. It was claimed in one of the programmes on TV channel that eating plastic bags results in death of 100 cattle per day in U.P. in India.

In stomach of one dead cow, as much as 35 kg of plastic was found. Because plastic does not decompose, and requires high energy ultra-violet light to break down, the amount of plastic waste in our oceans is streadily increasing.

More than 90% of the articles found on the sea beaches contained plastic. The plastic rubbish found on beaches near urban areas tends to originate from use on land, such as packaging material used to wrap around other goods.

On remote rural beaches the rubbish tends to have come from ships, such as fishing equipment used in the fishing industry. This plastic can affect marine wildlife in two important ways: by entangling creatures, and by being eaten.

Turtles are particularly badly affected by plastic pollution, and all seven of the world’s turtle species are already either endangered or threatened for a number of reasons. Turtles get entagled in fishing nets, and many sea turtles have been found dead with plastic bags in their stomachs. Turtles mistake floating transparent plastic bags for jellyfish and eat them.

In one dead turtle found off Hawaii in the Pacific more than 1000 pieces of plastic were found in its stomach. A recent US report concluded that more than 100000 marine mammals die every year in the world’s oceans by eating or getting entangled in plastic rubbish, and the position is worsening world-wide, 75 marine bird species are known to eat plastic articles. This includes 36 species found off South Africa.

A recent study of blue petrel chicks on South Africa’s remote Marine Island showed that 90% of chicks examined had plastic in their stomachs apparently fed to them accidentally by their parents. South African seabirds are among the worst affected in the world. Plastics may remain in the stomach, blocking digestion and possibly causing starvation.

Essay # 3. Effects of Plastic Pollution:

Since the development of plastic earlier this century, it has become a popular material used in a wide variety of ways. Today plastic is used to make, or wrap around, many of the items we buy or use. The problem arises when we no longer want these items and we have to dispose off them, particularly the throwaway plastic material used in wrapping or packaging.

Plastics are used because they are easy and cheap to make and they can last a long time. Unfortunately these same useful qualities can make plastic a huge pollution problem. The cheapness means plastic gets discarded easily and its long life means it survives in the environment for long periods where it can do great harm.

Because plastic does not decompose, and requires high energy ultraviolet light to break down, the amount of plastic waste in our oceans is steadily increasing.

The plastic rubbish found on beaches near urban areas tends to originate from use on land, such as packaging material used to wrap around other goods. On remote rural beaches the rubbish tends to have come from ships, such as fishing equipment used in the fishing industry.

i. Effect on Ocean Wildlife:

This plastic can affect marine wildlife in two important ways; by entangling creatures, and by being swallowed.

The bodies of almost all marine species, ranging in size from plankton to marine mammals, and including some of the wildest and most vulnerable species on the planet – animals that make nearly their entire living far from human beings – now contain plastic.

Sixty per-cent of 6,136 surface plankton net tows conducted in the Western North Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea from 1986 to 2008 contained buoyant plastic pieces, typically millimetre in size.

Plastics turn up in bird nests, are worn by hermit crabs instead of shells, and are present in sea turtle, whale and albatross stomachs. Over 260 species, including invertebrates, turtles, fish, seabirds and mammals, have been reported to ingest or become entangled in plastic debris, resulting in impaired movement and feeding, reduced reproductive output, lacerations, ulcers, and finally death.

Ingestion of plastic items occurs much more frequently than entanglement. At sea, plastic bags may often be mistaken for jellyfish, whilst on shorelines seabirds have been seen to pick up plastic items the same way they pick up cuttlefish bones. In the North Sea, almost all Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) contain some plastic.

Microscopic fragments, in some locations outweighing surface zooplankton, revealed a significant increase in abundance when samples from the 1960s and 1970s were compared with those of 1980s and 1990s. When ingested, such small particles can also be carried from the gut into other body tissues.

Ingestion of plastic can lead to wounds (internal and external); impairment of feeding capacity; blockage of digestive tract followed by satiation and starvation; and general debilitation often leading to death.

Plasticizers and organic contaminants they typically sorb and concentrate on plastics at levels far superior to the surrounding marine environment have been shown to affect both development and reproduction in a wide range of marine organisms.

Molluscs and crustaceans appear to be particularly sensitive to these compounds. Being an important food item for many species, plastics ingested by invertebrates then have the potential to transfer toxic substances up the food chain. The mechanism by which ingestion leads to illness and death can often only be surmised because the animals at sea are unobserved or are found dead ashore.

Once fouled with marine life or sediment, plastic items sink to the seafloor contaminating the sea bed. Deployment of a remotely operated vehicle submarine in the Fram Strait (Arctic) revealed 0.2 to 0.9 pieces of plastic per km at Hausgarten (2,500 m).

On dives between 5,500 and 6,770 m, 15 items of debris were observed, of which 13 were plastic. The presence of plastic at shallow and greater depths may harm sediment wildlife such as worms, sessile filter feeders, deposit feeders and detritivores, all known to accidentally ingest plastics.

The hard surface of pelagic plastics also provides an attractive and alternate substrate to natural floating debris (e.g., seeds, pumice, and wood) for a number of opportunistic colonizers. The increasing availability of these synthetic and non-biodegradable materials in marine debris may increase the dispersal and prospects for invasion by non-indigenous species.

ii. Plastic Pollution and Turtles:

Turtles are particularly badly affected by plastic pollution, and all seven of the world’s turtle species are already either endangered or threatened for a number of reasons. Turtles get entangled in fishing nets, and many sea turtles have been found dead with plastic bags in their stomachs.

It is believed that they mistake these floating semi-transparent bags for jellyfish and eat them. The turtles die from choking or from being unable to eat. One dead turtle found off Hawaii in the Pacific was found to have more than 100 pieces of plastic in its stomach including part of a comb, a toy truck wheel and nylon rope.

All sea turtle species are particularly prone and may be seriously harmed by ‘feeding on’ anthropogenic marine debris, particularly plastics. Of particular concern is floating plastic bags that might be mistaken for jellyfish, and discarded fishing gear in which sea turtles get entangled, or pieces of which they ingest.

Laboratory experiments demonstrated that green and loggerhead turtles actively target and consume plastics whether it is small pieces intermixed with food items, or single 1 to 10 cm 2 sheets. Sub lethal impacts of plastics on sea turtles can be substantial, yet mortality resulting from interactions with plastic debris is much more difficult to quantify.

Plastic ingestion by sea turtles is a relatively common occurrence, albeit often in small quantities. However, even in small quantities, plastics can kill sea turtles due to obstruction of the oesophagus or perforation of the bowel for example.

Relief of gastrointestinal (GI) obstruction of a green turtle off Melbourne beach, Florida, resulted in the animal defecting 74 foreign objects over a period of a month, including four types of latex balloons, five different types of strings, nine different types of soft plastic, four different types of hard plastic, a piece of carpet-like material, and 2 to 4 mm tar balls.

Fishing line can be particularly dangerous, when, during normal intestinal function, different parts of the digestive tract pull at different ends of the line. This can result in the gut gathering along the length of the line. This can result in the gut gathering along the length of the line preventing digesta from passing through the tract.

Plastic ingestion may also indirectly lead to death of an animal through nutrient dilution, i.e., plastic pieces displacing food in the gut (and reducing the surface available for absorption).

Typical consequences include decreased growth rate, longer developmental periods at sizes most vulnerable to predation, depleted energy reserves, and lower reproductive output and survivorship of animals. The latter is likely to be an important threat to smaller individuals with a lower ability to increase intake to meet their energetic requirements than larger animals.

Young pelagic sea turtles typically associate with “floating islands” of drifting seaweeds such as Sargassum. Floating plastics, tar from terrestrial and oceanic (ship) sources and lost fishing gear are drawn by advection into the same drift lines.

As young sea turtles indiscriminately feed on pelagic material, large occurrence of plastic is common in the digestive tract of these small sea turtles, often resulting their mortality.

As plastics can accumulate in multiple segments of the gut, stomach lavages underestimate the incidence of ingestion.

iii. Marine Mammals:

There is great concern about the effect of plastic rubbish on marine mammals in particular, because many of these creatures are already under threat of extinction for a variety of other reasons e.g. whale population has been decimated by uncontrolled hunting.

A recent US report concluded that 100000 marine mammals die every year in the world’s oceans by eating or becoming entangled in plastic rubbish, and the position is worsening.

When a marine mammal such as a Cape fur seal gets caught up in a large piece of plastic, it may simply drown, or get exhausted and die of starvation due to the greater effort needed to swim, or the plastic may kill slowly over a period of months or years as it bites into the animal causing wounds, loss of blood and/or severing of limbs.

iv. “Ghost Nets”:

A large number of marine creatures become trapped and killed in “ghost nets”. These are pieces of gill nets which have been lost by fishing vessels. Other pieces of fishing equipment such as lobster pots may also keep trapping creatures. 

v. Marine Birds:

World-wide, 75 marine bird species are known to eat plastic articles. This includes 36 species found off South Africa. A recent study of blue petrel chicks at South Africa’s remote Marion Island showed that 90% of chicks examined had plastic in their stomachs apparently fed to them accidently by their parents.

South African seabirds are among the worst affected in the world. Plastics may remain in the stomachs, blocking digestion and possibly causing starvation. As particular species seem to be badly affected this may be a threat to the entire population of these birds.

vi. Plastic Pollution and Elephant Seal:

Plastic’s devastating effect on marine mammals was first observed in the late 1970s, when scientists from the National Marine Mammal Laboratory concluded that plastic entanglement was killing up to 40,000 seals a year. Annually, this amounted to a four to six percent drop in seal population beginning in 1976. In 30 years, a 50% decline in Northern Fur Seals population has been reported.

These curious, playful seals would often play with fragments of plastic netting or packing straps, catching their necks in the webbing. The plastic harness can constrict the seal’s movements, killing the seal through starvation, exhaustion, or infection from deep wounds caused by the tightening material.

While diving for food, both seals and whales can get caught in translucent nets and drown. In the fall of 1982, a humpback whale tangled in 50 to 100 feet of net washed up on a Cape Cod beach. It was starving and its ribs were exposed. It died within a couple of hours.

Along Florida’s coasts, brown pelicans diving for fish sometimes dive for the bait on a fisherman’s line. Cutting the bird loose only makes the problem worse, as the pelican gets its wings and feet tangled in the line, or gets snagged onto a tree.

vii. Effect on Sea Birds:

Royal terns (Sterna maxima) are among several species of sea birds that dive from the air to the water to catch fish with their sharp beaks. A plastic bag floating at the surface would become invisible to the tern, and may even have attracted the fish in the first place.

In this photograph the tern’s bill penetrated the plastic and left the bird wearing the bag around its sneck like shroud. It causes problem to terns to dive in & catch fish. They die due to starvation.

viii. Plastic Bags Litter the Landscape:

Once they are used, most plastic bags go into landfill, or rubbish tips. Each year more and more plastic bags are ending up littering the environment. Once they become litter, plastic bags find their way into our waterways, parks, beaches, and streets. And, if they are burnt, they infuse the air with toxic fumes.

ix. Plastic Bags Kill Animals:

About 100,000 animals such as cows, dogs and penguins are killed every year due to plastic bags. Many animals ingest plastic bags, mistaking them for food, and therefore die. And worse, the ingested plastic bag remains intact even after the death and decomposition of the animal. Thus, it lies around in the landscape where another victim may ingest it.

x. Plastic Bags are Non-Biodegradable:

And one of the worst environmental effects of plastic bags is that they are non-biodegradable. The decomposition of plastic bags takes about 1000 years.

xi. Petroleum is Required to Produce Plastic Bags:

As it is, petroleum products are diminishing and getting more expensive day by day, since we have been using this non-renewable resource increasingly. Petroleum is vital for our modern way of life. It is necessary for our energy requirements – for our factories, transport, heating, lighting, and so on.

Without viable alternate sources of energy yet on the horizon, if the supply of petroleum were to be turned off, it would lead to practically the whole world grinding to a halt. Surely, this precious resource should not be wasted on producing plastic bags, should it?

xii. Effect on Birds:

Birds like chicks are often mistakenly fed plastics by their parents, when chicks are unable to eject the plastics, which cause death of chicks – either due to starvation or choking. Bottle caps and other plastic objects are visible inside the decomposed carcases of some Laysan albatoss. The bird probably mistook the plastics for food and injested them while foraging.

xiii. Effects on Human Beings:

The quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink or bath on, and the earth in which we grow our food has an immense effect on our health. A recent US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention Study found that about 93 percent of the US population has bisphenol A, a chemical that can be found in canned goods and in hard, clear plastic items (including baby bottles), in their body.

Endocrine disruptors are ubiquitous in our environment and have deep impact on our health. Endocrine distruptor chemicals (EDC’s) are added to plastic products to make them softer and easier to handle.

These EDCs are common in our environment and, when absorbed by human beings and wildlife, mimic the action of hormones and have been linked to reproductive problems in animals and human beings are known to affect fat cells.

Bisphenol A (an endocrine disruptor) is a key monomer in production of polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastic, which is clear and nearly shatter-proof, is used to make a variety of common products including baby and water bottles, sports equipment, medical and dental devices, dental composite (white) fillings and sealants and lenses.

The figure shows that as the plastic moves up in food chain, its concentration increases and when these fishes with huge amount of plastic are eaten by human cause diseases like cancer. Plastic plays the villain right from the stage of its production.

The major chemicals that go into the making of plastic are highly toxic and pose serious threat to living beings of all species on earth. Some of the constituents of plastic such as benzene are known to cause cancer. Recycling of plastic is associated with skin and respiratory problems, resulting from exposure to and inhalation of toxic fumes, especially hydrocarbons.

Thin plastics are thrown anywhere and everywhere causing the following environmental degradation problems:

i. It blocks the open sewage system and results in stagnation of sewage paving way for the mosquitoes which leads to the spread of various diseases.

ii. Plastic dumped on the soil prevents water percolation into the water table.

iii. It affects the very structure of soil.

iv. Water stagnating on the plastics strewn on the land becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes which, in turn, produce diseases.

v. Jelly fish-eating, Fishes mistaking the plastic floating in the water for Jellyfish eat them and then die their species is becoming extinct.

vi. Cattle eat plastic and die as a result thereof.

vii. Burning of plastics results in release of toxins in the atmosphere which, in turn, causes dreadly Cancer.

viii. Plastic is non-biodegradable and so the problems become perennial.

Essay # 4. Control of Plastic Pollution:

Plastic bags and bottles, like all forms of plastic, create significant environmental and economic burden. They consume growing amount of energy and other natural resources, degrading the environment in a number of ways.

In addition to using up fossil fuels and other resources, plastic products create litter, hurt marine life, and threaten the basis of life on earth. Here are some steps that we can take to reverse the tide of toxic, non-biodegradable pollution so that it may not overtake our planet.

i. Put produce in paper, canvas, and other healthy-fiber bags.

ii. If a clerk throws your box of soap into a plastic bag, ask him or her to replace it in one of your bags. Give the clerk a copy of “Why I Don’t Use Plastic Bags”. Our experience has been that they appreciate this information.

iii. Use wax paper bags, cloth napkins, or re-useable sandwich boxes (e.g., tiffins, described below).

iv. Use only glass bottles or cans.

v. Bottled water costs over 1000 times more per liter than water from your tap. Buying our most essential nutrient, water, from corporations represents an abdication of community control of the commons. If you have concerns about water safety, investigate a filter system such as Multi-Pure. Better yet, work with your water district to develop stricter standards for water purity.

vi. Pre-bagged produce not only uses wasteful packaging, but also tends to come from farther away, consuming more of our dwindling oil supplies in transport.

vii. Tiffins (stainless steel food containers) are a long tradition in India. They store food well, have longer life than Tupper Ware and its look-alikes (you’ve probably seen the fading, corroding, and chipping that occurs to these plastic containers), are more hygienic, and have a certain panache.

viii. Look for and reward earth-s friendly packaging choices, e.g.,

Buy greeting cards in paper boxes instead of clear plastic shells.

Ask you florist for flowers wrapped in paper, not clear film

Use pens that re-fill instead of land-fill.

ix. Conscious consumption is not only good for the earth, it’s good for you. “Mindfulness”, says Thick Nhat Hanh, “is the miracle by which we master and restore ourselves.”

x. Support recycling schemes and promote support for one in your local area.

xi. Fishermen throughout South Africa should not throw away waste line, net or plastic litter – this causes huge suffering and many deaths.

xii. Practice and promote paper disposal of plastics in your home and at the beach. Always remember that litter generates litter. Never dispose off plastics in the sewage system.

xiii. At the beach dispose off plastics and other litter in the bins provided. If these facilities are inadequate, contact the local authority responsible for this and lodge a complaint. Take your litter back home with you if there are no receptacles on the beach. Pick up any plastic litter you may see on the beach or in rock pools in the vicinity in which you are sitting or walking. Encourage young children to do likewise.

xiv. In the street never throw plastic or other litter out of your car and do not drop it on the pavement or in the gutter.

xv. Set an example for others and encourage them to help. Plastics are not themselves a problem. They are useful and popular materials which can be produced with relatively little damage to the environment. The problem is the excessive use of plastics in one-off applications together with careless disposal.

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Plastic factories like this one in China are increasing production of virgin plastic, even as plastic pollution sweeps into the oceans in record volumes.

Plastic pollution is a huge problem—and it’s not too late to fix it

Correcting our plastic waste problem requires a fundamental change in thinking about how plastics are made, used, and discarded, two new studies say.

The global campaign to gain control of plastic waste is one of the fastest-growing environmental causes ever mounted. Yet it hasn’t been enough to make a dent in the growing tonnage of discarded plastic that ends up in the seas.

In the next 10 years, the waste that slides into waterways, and ultimately the oceans , will reach 22 million tons and possibly as much as 58 million tons a year. And that’s the “good” news—because that estimate takes into account thousands of ambitious commitments by government and industry to reduce plastic pollution.

Without those pledges, a business-as-usual scenario would be almost twice as bad. With no improvements to managing waste beyond what’s already in place today, 99 million tons of uncontrolled plastic waste would end up in the environment by 2030.

These two scenarios, the result of new research by an international team of scientists, are a far cry from the first global tally published in 2015, which estimated that an average of 8.8 million tons flow into the oceans annually. That was a figure so startling to the world when it was published five years ago, it helped invigorate the plastic trash movement.

Jenna Jambeck, the University of Georgia engineering professor who calculated that number, also came up with a vivid analogy to put it in context. It would be the equivalent of one dump truck tipping a load of plastic into the ocean every minute every day for a year. Jambeck is also part of the team that came up with the new calculations. But coming up with a new way to visualize 22 to 58 million tons proved a challenge.

“I don’t know. We’re getting into the realm of what’s incomprehensible,” she says. “How about a football stadium filled with plastic every day? Or enough plastic to cover Rhode Island or the country of Luxembourg ankle deep?”

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Neither of these new analogies, while accurate, capture the magnitude of what’s at stake. (More: We're drowning in plastic—find out why. )

Like climate change, a lot rides on how the global community responds in the next couple of decades. And, though the parallels between the problem of plastic waste and climate change are obvious—both are rooted in oil, the basic ingredient to make plastics, they are dissimilar in one key way: plastic’s persistence. While there is some possibility, however remote, that technology and restoration of natural ecosystems could remove CO 2 from the atmosphere, there is no such analog for plastic. Virtually indestructible, it doesn’t disappear.

“For me, the biggest issue is the question of permanence,” says George Leonard , the Ocean Conservancy’s chief scientist and a member of the team that produced this newest forecast. “If we don’t get the plastic pollution problem in the ocean under control, we threaten contaminating the entire marine food web, from phytoplankton to whales. And by the time the science catches up to this, perhaps definitively concluding that this is problematic, it will be too late. We will not be able to go back. That massive amount of plastic will be embedded in the ocean’s wildlife essentially forever.”

The power of two

Royal Dutch Shell will produce plastic pellets like these at its new plant in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. The plant will create more than a million tons of the tiny pellets. Many in the Pittsburgh area see it as an economic engine, but others worry about the long-term environmental harm.

The analysis is the second in recent weeks to look ahead to the future of the plastic economy and conclude that correcting the waste problem—40 percent of plastic manufactured today is disposable packaging—requires a fundamental change in thinking about how plastics are made, used, and discarded.

The new findings were made by a team of scientists funded by the National Science Foundation through the University of Maryland’s National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center ( SESYNC ). The other project, which looks ahead to 2040, was led by the Pew Charitable Trusts and SYSTEMIQ, a London-based environmental advisory and investment firm, and was first made public in July. Both studies were published together in the journal Science in September.

What’s unusual is that two independent scientific working groups, using differing methodologies and timelines, reached the same broad conclusions. Both laid blame for the rising tonnage of plastic in the seas on the growth of plastic production that is outpacing the world’s ability to keep up with collecting plastic trash. They also agreed that reducing surging waste requires reducing surging production of virgin plastic.

“The magnitude of the problem is the same. The difference is in methodology,” says Stephanie Borrelle, a marine biologist in New Zealand and lead author of the SESYNC study. “We have to do something about this and do it soon. Our annual count of leakage doesn’t account for what’s already in the oceans.”

Both projects also concluded that plastic waste could be significantly reduced, though not eliminated, using existing technologies. That includes improving waste collection and recycling, redesigning products to eliminate packaging made from unrecyclable plastics, expanding refillables, and in some cases substituting other materials. But solutions such as recycling, now globally hovering around 12 percent, would also require a massive scaling-up with many additional recycling facilities that don’t exist.

The SESYNC project also calls for cleaning up plastic waste from shorelines, where possible. To give an idea of the scale involved in achieving that goal, it would require a billion people to participate in the Ocean Conservancy’s annual beach cleanup that now attracts about one million volunteers.

“The inconvenient truth now is that this business-as-usual growth in production of new plastics is not compatible with ending plastics in nature,” says Ben Dixon, a former sustainability manager at Royal Dutch Shell and partner at SYSTEMIQ. “That’s the inconvenient truth both studies get to the heart of. We may see more pressures from investors, customers, and a changing of the world underneath the feet of these companies.”

Both projects captured the attention of the plastics industry, which was quick to praise the research, but dismissed the idea of reducing production of virgin plastic as “highly counterproductive and impractical,” in the words of the American Chemistry Council, a trade group for the petrochemical industry. In emailed responses, ExxonMobil and Dow Chemical, two of the world’s leading manufacturers of polyethylene, agreed.

“Reducing production to solve the waste problem will, in turn, aggravate the carbon and climate problem as alternative materials have higher emissions,” Dow said.

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The manufacturing of plastic emits less CO2 and uses less water than for glass or aluminum. Some argue that such accounting doesn’t always factor in all the costs, such as environmental cleanup and weight. Glass manufacturing emits less CO2 per gram, but glass bottles are heavier. And, in the marine world, they say, it’s beside the point: Turtles eat plastic bags, not glass bottles and aluminum cans.

Todd Spitler, an Exxon spokesman, said the company’s focus will be on “increasing plastic recyclability, supporting improvements in plastic waste recovery and minimizing plastic pellet loss from our operations."

The SESYNC study calls for setting global limits on the production of virgin plastic, a recommendation unlikely to be realized. At the last United Nations Environmental Program meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2019, negotiations to pass a resolution calling for phasing out single-use plastic by 2025 and to draft a legally binding treaty on plastic debris ended in a stalemate.

The Pew/SYSTEMIQ study calls for reducing virgin production by 11 percent, arguing there is enough waste plastic that could be recycled and remade into new plastic to satisfy demand. The problem is that virgin plastic—new resin created from natural gas or oil—is so cheap to make that it undermines the economics of the recycling market. It is simply less expensive to manufacture new plastic than to collect, sort, and process disposable plastic into new feedstock. Especially now, with the collapse of oil prices. (Read more on the SYSTEMIQ study here.)

Plastic production to increase by 2050

In fact, production is forecast to more than double by 2050—increasing to 756 million tons anticipated in 2050 from 308 million tons produced in 2018, according to a report published by the American Chemistry Council in 2019. In the United States, $203 billion has been invested in 343 new or expanded chemical plants to produce plastics, according to ACC figures published last February. Production capacity for ethylene and propylene is projected to increase by 33 to 36 percent, according to an estimate by the Center for International Environmental Law.

Keith Christman , the ACC’s managing director of plastics markets, says the demand for plastic products, such as lightweight automobile parts and materials used in home construction, including insulation and water piping, is only going to grow.

“New technologies is the direction that we see the industry going,” he says.

Historically, plastic production has increased almost continuously since the 1950s, from 1.8 million tons in 1950 to 465 million tons in 2018. As of 2017, 7 billion of the 8.8 billion tons produced globally over that whole period have become waste.

The industry attributes future growth to two factors: the increasing global population and demands for more plastic consumer goods, fueled by the increasing buying power of a growing middle class. The UN projects that the world’s population, now about 7.8 billion, will add about two billion more by 2050, primarily in Asia and Africa. Globally, the middle class is anticipated to expand by 400 million households by 2039—and that is where the plastics market growth will occur.

Africa, to cite one example, shows the complications that lie ahead for gaining control of plastic waste in the coming decades. The continent today generates waste at a low rate by global standards, according to a UN report published last year. It also has limited environmental regulations, weak enforcement, and inadequate systems in place to manage waste. But as its population explodes and becomes more urban, and as buying habits change with higher standards of living, sub-Saharan Africa is forecast to become the dominant region producing municipal waste.

“Everyone is going to need to play a role along the whole value chain,” says Guy Bailey , a leading plastics analyst at Wood Mackenzie, a consulting firm specializing in energy, chemicals, mining and other research.

“If you are a recycler, it is difficult to make an investment when oil prices completely destroy the economics of your business. If you are a packing company, you are faced with so many choices of materials, it’s hard to know which to pick. If you are a chemical company, you clearly can see the reputational challenge. They risk losing their social license to operate if things go too far. They want to address those challenges.”

The Alliance to End Plastic Waste, founded last year by 50 industry titans, committed to investing $1.5 billion in creating solutions to improve methods for collecting plastic waste and recycling into new products. So far, it has launched 14 projects, many in Southeast Asia and Africa, including in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Ghana.

Jacob Duer, president and CEO, said the new report “reiterates the necessity and the urgency in addressing the issue and underlines the importance of a paradigm shift.”

As the organization, based in Singapore, matures, he says the number of projects and capital investment will grow. But it opposes reducing virgin plastic production.

Both Duer and Martyn Ticknet, head of the Alliance’s project development, see similarities between tackling plastic waste and global efforts to close the hole in the ozone layer that began in the 1970s. Last year the hole had shrunk to its smallest size on record since its discovery.

“We’ve solved major crises before,” Ticknet says. “It takes some time to get going.”

Related Topics

• WATER POLLUTION
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These tiny fish reveal our oceans’ biggest problem: plastic

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Home sweet … garbage? The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is teeming with life

What BPA can do to our bodies—and how to limit your exposure

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Plastic Pollution

We will not recycle our way out of the plastic pollution crisis: we need a systemic transformation to achieve the transition to a circular economy

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Home — Essay Samples — Environment — Plastic Bags — The Critical Challenge of Plastic Pollution

The Critical Challenge of Plastic Pollution

• Categories: Plastic Bags Pollution

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Updated: 29 March, 2024

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Essay on Plastic Pollution in English for Children and Students

Table of Contents

Plastic pollution is damaging our environment rapidly. Waste plastic material is hard to dispose of and contributes to major pollution on earth. This has become a cause of global concern. The increasing use of plastic bags, utensils and furniture, the amount of plastic waste has also gone up and so has the plastic pollution. It is time we must take this problem seriously and work towards eradicating it.

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Long and Short Essay on Plastic Pollution in English

Here are essays on plastic pollution of varying lengths to help you with the topic in your exams and school assignments. You can select any plastic pollution essay as per your need and requirement:

Short Essay on Plastic Pollution 200 words – Essay 1

Plastic pollution is caused due to the accumulation of the waste plastic material in the environment. Plastic is a non bio-degradable substance. It doesn’t get disposed off in the soil or water and its effect is worse when burnt. It is thus a challenge to dispose it off. Remains in the environment for hundreds of years and causes air, water and land pollution. It is hazardous for the humans, animals as well as the plants. Several animals, birds and marine creatures die due to plastic pollution each year.

Plastic plates, bags, spoons, glasses and other material are readily available in the market. These are economical and easy to use. People prefer using these use-and-throw utensils during gatherings and parties as it shuns the hassle of clearing and cleaning the utensils later. All they need to do is to gather these and throw them away. However, little do they realize that this waste is not disposed off so easily. It continues to remain in the environment and harm us adversely.

Not just plastic utensils and carry bags, furniture and various other things made out of plastic are also used extensively world over. It is high time we must realize the harmful effects of plastic pollution and contribute our bit towards bringing it down.

Essay on Beat Plastic Pollution 300 words – Essay 2

Plastic pollution, caused due to plastic waste, has reached alarming heights and is increasing rapidly with every passing day. It has become a cause of global concern as it is destroying our beautiful planet and having negative repercussions on all kinds of living beings.

Ways to Beat Plastic Pollution

Here are two simple ways to lower plastic pollution that we can practice in our daily life:

• Avoid Usage/ Look for Alternatives

The first and the most important step towards beating plastic pollution is to avoid the usage of plastic products.

Now, since we have grown quite accustomed to using plastic products and these are light on our pocket, we cannot avoid their usage completely. However, we can certainly avoid using those plastic products that can easily be replaced with eco-friendly alternatives. For instance, instead of using plastic bags, we can easily opt for a jute, cloth or paper bag when we head for shopping. Likewise, instead of using disposable plastic cutlery and utensils during parties we can use those made of steel, paper, thermocol or any other material which is reusable or easy to dispose.

If you cannot avoid using plastic bags or other products for some reason then it is suggested to at least reuse them as many times as you can before disposing them off. We are in a habit of throwing the plastic bags and containers we get with packed food almost immediately after use even though these can be used a couple of times before disposing off. We should reuse these instead. This can be our contribution towards reducing the plastic waste and bringing down plastic pollution.

Essay on Causes and Effects of Plastic Pollution 400 words – Essay 3

Plastic pollution has become a major threat to our environment in today’s times and it is likely to make things worse in the times to come. There are many reasons that lead to this type of pollution. The adverse effects of plastic pollution are also plenty.

Causes of Plastic Pollution

• Economical and Easy to Use

Plastic is one of the most widely used substances when it comes to production of containers, bags, furniture and various other things. This is because it is economical and can easily be molded into different forms. The increasing use of plastic goods has increased the plastic waste which is a cause of plastic pollution.

• Non-Biodegradable

Plastic waste which is increasing by the day is non-biodegradable. Plastic does not get disposed of in soil or water. It remains in the environment for hundreds of years and adds to the land, water and air pollution.

• Plastic Breaks but Doesn’t Dissolve

Plastic bags and other items made from plastic break into tiny particles that make their way into the soil or enter the water bodies thereby contributing to plastic pollution.

Effects of Plastic Pollution

Here is how plastic pollution is effecting our environment and life on earth:

• Pollutes Water

Plastic waste is entering the water bodies such as rivers, seas and even oceans and is polluting our water drastically. This water is then supplied at our places. No matter how much we filter this water it can never get back to its pure form and thus has negative repercussions on our health.

• Pollutes Land

Large amount of plastic waste is dumped in landfills. Wind carries plastic bags and other small plastic particles from one place to another thereby effecting major area. Plastic particles release harmful chemicals that deposit in the soil and ruin its quality. It impacts the growth of the plants. Besides, waste lying on the land breeds mosquitoes and other insects that are carriers of various serious illnesses.

• Harms Marine Life

Plastic bags and other plastic litter that goes into rivers and seas are mistaken as food by the marine creatures who often gulp them and eventually fall sick.

• Harms Animals

Animals mostly feed on food thrown in the garbage. They eat plastic bags and other items along with other things. Plastic bags often get stuck in their intestines and choke them to death. They are also a cause of many serious illnesses.

Essay on Solutions of Plastic Pollution 500 words – Essay 4

Plastic pollution has become a growing concern worldwide. The government of many countries is taking measures such as banning plastic bags to reduce plastic pollution. However, bringing down this problem is only possible if we all contribute our bit as responsible human beings.

Government Must Take Stringent Steps

It is time the government of various countries must take strict measures to fight plastic pollution. Here are few steps they should follow:

• Keep a Tab on Plastic Production

With the increasing demand of plastic products in the market, the number of factories manufacturing plastic is increasing worldwide. The government must not allow any more plastic manufacturers in the market to keep a tab on the production of the items made of plastic.

• Ban Plastic Items

The government of many countries have put a ban on the use of plastic bags as they contribute to maximum amount of plastic pollution. However, in some countries such as India, this ban has not been implemented well. The government must take stringent steps to stop the use of plastic bags. This should involve putting a ban on the production of plastic bags as well as punishing those found using these.

• Spread Awareness

It is of utmost importance to spread awareness about the harmful effects of plastic waste on our environment. This can be done by way of television and radio advertisements, billboards and social media. This should help people understand the seriousness of the issue and how their contribution can make a difference.

Other Simple Solutions to Lower Plastic Pollution

Here are certain simple ways in which we can lower plastic pollution and make our environment cleaner:

• Don’t Use Plastic Bags

Plastic bags get broken into tiny pieces that go into the water bodies and enter the soil thereby disrupting the growth of plants and causing harm to the aquatic life. Mostly used for grocery shopping, these bags can easily be replaced by reusable cloth bags.

• Say No to Packaged Drinking Water

Packaged drinking water comes in plastic bottles and glasses. These waste bottles and glasses contribute immensely to plastic pollution. As responsible citizens we must stop purchasing packaged drinking water and carry our own water bottles instead.

• Avoid Ordering Food

Most fast food restaurants deliver food in plastic containers that add to waste plastic. It is better to avoid ordering food from such restaurants. It is better to have home cooked food.

Many recycling companies take used plastic containers, plastic bottles and other stuff made of this material and recycle it. It is suggested to give away such plastic items to these companies rather than throwing them in the bin and adding to the plastic waste.

• Purchase Bulk Grocery

It is a good idea to purchase bigger packages of the grocery items rather than going for several small packets. These items are mostly packed in plastic bags or containers. So, this way you will reduce plastic waste.

Long Essay on Plastic Pollution 600 words – Essay 5

Plastic pollution is increasing by the day. Research shows that the use of plastic has increased drastically in the last two decades. Plastic is convenient to use and costs less. This is the reason why people are more inclined towards purchasing various products made of plastic. To meet the growing demands of the people, the number of factories manufacturing plastic products has increased rapidly. The more plastic used, the more plastic waste gets accumulated on our planet and causes the hazardous plastic pollution. This is becoming a threat to life as it is giving way to various illnesses.

Plastic Production: Consuming Useful Resources

Not only is disposing of plastic a serious concern but the production of this substance is equally devastating for us. The production of plastic involves valuable fossil fuels such as oil and petroleum. These fossil fuels are non-renewable and hard to extract.

A lot invested in fetching these fossil fuels and these required for various other purposes. If we continue to use these valuable fuels for the production of plastic, we shall run out of them and would not be able to employ them for producing or running other more important things.

Marine Life: Worst Effected by Plastic Pollution

Plastic bags and other plastic particles carried by wind and water into the seas, oceans and other water bodies. People who go for picnics and camping also litter plastic bottles and packets of chips that add to plastic pollution.

All this goes into the rivers and seas and effects the marine creatures adversely. These poor creatures mistake plastic for food and eat it. This results in serious illness in fishes, turtles and other marine creatures. Many of them die because of plastic pollution each year. Researchers claim the number of deaths and illnesses caused due to plastic pollution will increase in the coming years.

Plastic Pollution: A Threat to Humans and Animals

Just like the marine creatures, animals also consume plastic lying in the garbage mistaking it for food. At times, they gulp the entire plastic bag by mistake. This gets stuck in their intestines and suffocates them to death. Plastic waste keeps deteriorating with time and becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes, flies and other insects. Large chunk of mosquitoes penetrate here and give way to various diseases each year.

Plastic waste is also polluting the rivers that are a source of drinking water for us. The quality of drinking water is getting worse day by day due to plastic pollution and this is resulting in various water borne diseases.

Collective Effort to Fight Plastic Pollution

It is difficult to dispose plastic products. It is dangerous when plastic waste goes to the landfills and even more dangerous when it goes into the water bodies. Unlike, wood and paper we cannot even dispose it of by burning it. This is because burning plastic produces harmful gases that are dangerous for the environment and life on earth. Plastic thus causes air, water and land pollution.

No matter, how hard we try we cannot do away with the plastic products completely. However, we can certainly restrict our plastic usage. A number of plastic products such as plastic bags, containers, glasses, bottles, etc can easily replaced by eco-friendly alternatives such as cloth/ paper bags, steel utensils and so on.

Controlling plastic pollution is not solely the government’s responsibility. In fact, the government alone cannot do anything. We need to act responsibly and do our bit to bring down the plastic pollution.

Frequently Asked Questions on Plastic Pollution

What is the short paragraph of plastic pollution.

Plastic pollution refers to the accumulation of plastic waste in the environment, particularly in oceans, rivers, and landfills. It is a significant global concern due to the detrimental effects it has on ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. Plastic materials, such as bottles, bags, and microplastics, take hundreds of years to decompose, leading to long-lasting pollution. Plastic pollution not only degrades the beauty of our natural surroundings but also poses risks to marine life, as animals can mistake plastic for food or become entangled in it. It is crucial to address plastic pollution through sustainable practices and the reduction of single-use plastics.

What is plastic essay in English?

Plastic is a synthetic material derived from petrochemicals. It has become an integral part of our modern lives due to its versatility, durability, and affordability. However, the excessive and irresponsible use of plastic has led to a grave environmental crisis. Plastic pollution is a pressing issue worldwide, with devastating effects on ecosystems and human health. Plastic takes centuries to degrade, resulting in its accumulation in landfills, oceans, and other natural habitats. It poses a significant threat to marine life, as animals often mistake plastic debris for food or become entangled in it. To mitigate plastic pollution, it is essential to promote recycling, reduce single-use plastics, and adopt sustainable alternatives.

प्लास्टिक निबंध को इंग्लिश में क्या कहते हैं?

एक प्लास्टिक प्रदूषण निबंध कैसे शुरू करें: प्लास्टिक प्रदूषण निबंध को शुरू करने के लिए आप निम्नलिखित तरीकों का उपयोग कर सकते हैं: एक उद्धरण या किसी रोचक तथ्य के साथ प्रारंभ करें जो प्लास्टिक प्रदूषण के बारे में ध्यान आकर्षित कर सके। प्लास्टिक का परिचय दें और इसके महत्वपूर्ण उपयोगों का वर्णन करें। प्लास्टिक प्रदूषण के प्रमुख कारणों का विवरण करें, जैसे एकल उपयोग प्लास्टिक, कंटेनरों और पैकेजिंग, और अनुचित तरीके से प्लास्टिक की उपयोगिता का उपयोग करना। प्लास्टिक प्रदूषण के परिणामों पर विचार करें, जैसे समुद्री जीवों के लिए खतरा, जैव विविधता पर प्रभाव, और मानव स्वास्थ्य पर आपत्तिजनक प्रभाव। प्लास्टिक प्रदूषण को रोकने के उपाय पर चर्चा करें, जैसे कि प्लास्टिक की उपयोग सीमित करना, पुनर्चक्रण को बढ़ावा देना, बायोडीग्रेडेबल प्रोडक्ट्स का उपयोग करना, और सब्सिडीज़ और कानूनी प्रावधानों का समर्थन करना।

How do you start a plastic pollution essay?

Grab the readers attention: Begin with a captivating opening sentence or a thought-provoking question related to plastic pollution. This will engage the reader and make them interested in reading further. Provide background information: Introduce the topic of plastic pollution and its significance. Discuss the widespread use of plastics in various industries and its impact on the environment. Highlight the harmful effects of plastic: Explain the detrimental effects of plastic on ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. Discuss how plastic pollution leads to habitat destruction, marine pollution, entanglement of animals, and ingestion of microplastics. Address the environmental impact: Describe how plastic waste contributes to pollution, particularly in oceans and landfills. Talk about the slow decomposition rate of plastic and the long-term consequences it has on the environment. Discuss the human health risks: Highlight the potential health risks associated with plastic pollution. Mention the harmful chemicals present in plastics, such as Bisphenol A (BPA), and their effects on human health, including hormonal disruptions and potential carcinogenic properties. Explore the social and economic implications: Discuss how plastic pollution affects communities, particularly those living near polluted areas or dependent on natural resources. Address the economic costs of plastic pollution, such as the impact on tourism, fishing industries, and waste management. Propose solutions: Shift the focus towards solutions to combat plastic pollution. Discuss individual and collective actions that can be taken to reduce plastic consumption, promote recycling, and encourage sustainable alternatives. Highlight success stories: Share examples of communities, organizations, or countries that have successfully implemented measures to reduce plastic pollution. This can inspire readers and demonstrate that change is possible. Emphasize the importance of education and awareness: Stress the significance of spreading awareness about the consequences of plastic pollution. Discuss the role of education in changing behaviors, promoting sustainable practices, and advocating for policy changes. Conclude with a call to action: Summarize the main points of the essay and leave the reader with a compelling call to action. Encourage individuals to make conscious choices, support initiatives, and actively participate in reducing plastic waste.

How is plastic harmful?

Plastic is harmful due to several reasons: Environmental impact: Plastics are non-biodegradable and can persist in the environment for hundreds of years. They contribute to pollution, littering ecosystems, and causing harm to wildlife. Marine pollution: Plastic waste in oceans harms marine life through ingestion, entanglement, and habitat destruction. It disrupts the balance of marine ecosystems and poses a threat to marine species. Microplastics: Plastic breaks down into tiny particles known as microplastics, which are found in water bodies, soil, and even the air we breathe. These microplastics can be ingested by organisms, potentially entering the food chain and posing health risks. Human health risks: Some plastics contain harmful chemicals, such as BPA, phthalates, and PVC, which can leach into food, beverages, and the environment. These chemicals are associated with various health issues, including hormonal disruptions, reproductive problems, and potential carcinogenic effects.

How can we avoid plastic?

To avoid plastic and reduce plastic consumption, consider the following: Carry reusable bags: Bring your own reusable bags when shopping instead of using single-use plastic bags. Say no to plastic straws and utensils: Opt for reusable alternatives like metal or bamboo straws and utensils. Use a refillable water bottle: Carry a reusable water bottle to avoid single-use plastic bottles. Bring your own containers: When ordering takeout or buying food, use your own containers to avoid disposable plastic containers. Choose products with minimal or plastic-free packaging: Look for products with eco-friendly packaging or those that use minimal plastic packaging. Recycle and dispose of plastic properly: Follow proper recycling practices and dispose of plastic waste responsibly to prevent it from ending up in landfills or oceans. Support alternatives to plastic: Choose sustainable alternatives like glass, metal, or bamboo products instead of plastic whenever possible. Spread awareness: Educate others about the consequences of plastic pollution and promote sustainable practices in your community.

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• Published: 01 August 2024

Plastic recycling: A panacea or environmental pollution problem

• Nisha Singh 1 , 2 &
• Tony R. Walker 2  

npj Materials Sustainability volume  2 , Article number:  17 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

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• Environmental sciences
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Increasing plastic waste is a critical global challenge to ecological and human health requiring focused solutions to reduce omnipresent plastic pollution in the environment. While recycling has been touted as one solution to counter plastic waste and resource utilization, it has been largely ineffective in offsetting the impact of rising global plastic production of more than 400 million metric tonnes annually, due to low global recycling rates of only 9%. Over three decades since implementing plastic resin codes, recycling has favoured thermoplastics, neglecting thermoset plastics. There is a constant need to enhance overall recycling efficiency by exploring advanced methods, as enormous gaps exist in fully unlocking the potential of plastic recycling. We identify critical gaps associated with plastic waste recycling and its potential environmental impacts. We discuss substantial progress in recycling technology, designs-for-recyclability with controlled chemical use, and economic incentives to expand markets for recycled plastics and to curb plastic leakage into the environment. Additionally, we highlight some emerging strategies and legally binding international policy instruments, such as the Global Plastics Treaty that require further development to reduce plastic waste and improve plastic recyclability.

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Introduction.

The versatile properties of plastics, in contrast to traditional materials such as paper, glass, and metals, facilitate innumerable applications across various sectors, including automobiles, agriculture, electronics, packaging, and healthcare 1 , 2 . For example, the incorporation of plastic in various vehicle components reduces weight and enhances performance in automobile industries. Our growing reliance on the convenience of consumer plastics has resulted in increased global production and consumption leading to unprecedented plastic waste generation and widespread plastic pollution. However, our infatuation with plastics is weakening due to its associated risks to environmental and human health 3 , 4 .

Globally, more than 9200 million metric tonnes (Mt) of plastic have been produced to date. Of this, a significant 6900 Mt has not undergone any type of recycling, resulting instead in accumulation in landfills or dispersal within the environment. This represents a missed economic opportunity and a substantial detriment to the environmental health 5 . To sustain the viability of this multi-billion-dollar material, it is crucial to address the complexity of plastic waste and take transformative steps to redesign plastic products focusing on sustainability and end-of-life (EoL). Among the recently available options to manage plastic waste are – (1) landfilling (waste-to-landfill), with its finite capacity, risks leaching toxic chemicals into the surrounding environment, (2) waste-to-energy through incineration with the potential to release hazardous chemicals and gases (e.g., dioxins and furans), and (3) recycling plastic waste into new products 6 , 7 (Fig. 1 ). Plastic waste in landfills is a reflection of unrealized economic potential and harm inflicted upon the environment. While energy recovery from plastics offers convenience without the labour-intensive sorting required for recycling, it limits material recovery to low energy conversion and intensifies atmospheric pollution and global warming. However, emerging carbon capture technologies in exhaust gases may be used so that CO 2 emissions can be minimized 6 . Conversely, recycling presents an opportunity to address the challenge of increasing global plastic waste.

Artwork for this figure is original and created by the authors.

Plastic recycling encompasses the entire process from waste collection to reprocessing into valuable form 8 (Fig. 1 ). Plastics can undergo mechanical or chemical recycling to maintain their original chemical structure, or deliberately alter the chemical composition of the material, respectively 9 , 10 . Currently, mechanical recycling dominates plastic waste management 11 , 12 , with polyethylene or polythene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) being the most commonly recycled 8 , 13 and valuable post-consumer plastics globally. Plastic recycling is performed using different approaches including primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary recycling 6 , 8 . A small fraction of mechanically recycled plastics undergo closed-loop material recycling to generate identical products as the original plastic and contribute to primary recycling. As a result, closed-loop recycling relies on high-quality waste inputs 14 , with pre-consumer manufacturing waste forming a crucial component 6 . Additionally, open-loop recycling creates products serving different purposes than the original material that enters into alternative markets 11 . The process of open-loop mechanical recycling can potentially lead to secondary recycling opportunities. Conversely, tertiary, or chemical cycling practices advance methods to depolymerize and recover monomers, and hydrocarbon products through pyrolysis, and gasification 15 . Chemical recycling, while efficient for mixed plastic waste, is quite limited due to high energy requirements and intense reaction conditions. Besides, a major burden of chemical recycling technologies such as gasification or pyrolysis is the need to clean the downstream output— to protect the equipment and keep the product valuable 16 . Further, the quaternary approach involves energy recovery by incineration, especially from mixed plastic waste instead of diverting it to landfills 6 .

Theoretically, most polymers are recyclable and some even have desirable cradle-to-cradle lifecycles, offering opportunities for a circular plastic economy 12 , 17 . Here, we discuss some major challenges of recycling such as the complexity of plastic products themselves, market forces that make fossil-fuel-derived virgin plastics cheaper than recycled plastic feedstock, the negative environmental, and social impacts, and inconsistent global policies, including the Global Plastics Treaty 18 , that influence international efforts for effective closed-loop plastic recycling 19 . Additionally, we call for prioritizing reduction in plastic production, consumption, and exploring alternative sustainable materials to tackle rising plastic waste 20 , 21 .

Challenges of plastic recycling

Acknowledging the presence of EoL plastics is crucial in addressing the intricacies of plastic recycling. While recycling is widely touted as a promising pathway to achieving a plastic waste-free future, there remain substantial barriers to making this a reality. For example, current global recycling rates, at only 9%, are simply ineffective in the face of increased plastic production. Over 400 Mt of plastics is produced annually 2 , primarily as single-use items, accounting for more than 50% of consumer-based plastics, which are difficult-to-recycle 22 , 23 . The intrinsic polymer and product design flows of plastic impede their EoL recyclability. Despite the recyclability of most consumed thermoplastics, only a small fraction of them find their way into the recycling stream. Besides, several plastics are incompatible during recycling resulting in a phase-separate mixture adding to the recycling cost and reducing profitability 6 . Meanwhile, the phase separation of the mismatching plastic waste stream can be controlled by polymer compatibilizers such as block copolymers, and graft copolymers 24 . The introduction of compatibilizers stabilizes the immiscible mixture and allows their interaction to produce advanced material 12 , 13 .

Contemporary recycling techniques predominantly address thermoplastics, omitting a substantial fraction of plastic types lacking circular design. Thermoset plastics exemplify this issue, where their valued rigidity from covalent cross-linking also confers significant recycling resistance 12 . While it is possible to grind into fine powders for certain downgrade applications, recycling thermosets, which currently constitute one-third of the total plastic manufactured, requires a distinct approach compared to thermoplastics 25 . Similarly, elastomers primarily composed of tires, represent one of the rapidly expanding industries, and encounter an uncertain fate 24 , 26 . Additionally, composite plastics, integrating polymers with fibrous substances such as fiberglass or carbon fibre, are increasingly used across various industries but present substantial separation hurdles. These challenges underscore the imperative for research into the design of easy-to-recycle plastic materials 17 , 27 .

The complexity and diversity of plastic compositions, exacerbated by chemical additives blended for versatility, lead to a low recycling rate due to the difficulty in recycling different grades together without degrading properties 11 . For instance, reprocessing different colours of 100% recyclable PET 28 together can lead to lower-quality recyclate 19 , 24 . High-value transparent plastics are preferred and hold higher market value, while pigmented ones may be discarded. Therefore, recycling necessitates extensive sorting facilities to maintain the quality of the end product. A notable challenge to sorting lies in the complex composition of most plastic waste generated today, compounded by contamination with labels, coatings, and food remains 8 , 29 . The immiscible plastic waste, combined with diverse materials, questions the efficacy of current recycling techniques, which are more inclined to pure waste polymers requiring efficient waste collection and extensive sorting 24 . Although sorting waste at the source has generally improved, the sorted waste is often underutilized or repurposed ineffectively 30 . If the waste stream is too contaminated, it is not recycled and diverted to landfills or incinerators 19 . Moreover, recycled plastics typically endure only a few recycling cycles 3 , with approximately 10%—undergoing multiple rounds 31 , and are often mixed with virgin materials to maintain the desired properties 24 .

About 90% of plastics production relies on oil and gas feedstocks 23 , and in 2019, this accounted for 6% of the world’s oil production used as raw material 32 , 33 . The surge in fossil fuel availability for plastic production, driven by global decarbonization efforts in the energy and transport sector, exacerbates the issue. Recent developments in creating alternative materials like bio-PET and bio-PE aim to promote reduction of fossil resource use and to reduce life-cycle CO 2 emissions. Incorporating these bioplastics, identical to their fossil fuel versions, into existing recycling methods, however, remains crucial to their positive impact and avoid waste problems and plastic pollution at EoL 34 . The readily available and inexpensive fossil fuels present a significant disincentive to building waste collection infrastructure, particularly in low-income countries where funding and planning are already insufficient. This poses substantial challenges to enhancing recycling efforts and developing a more robust waste management system 4 , 35 .

Consequently, the low recycling rate leads to a disparity between the demand and supply of recycled plastic resins 36 . Additionally, market values of reprocessed resins are compromised by their reduced structural integrity. Advanced techniques, such as solid-state polymerization, offer solutions by enhancing polymer chain reassembly and strength by heating the polymer without reaching melting points. Often contaminated plastic waste from industries or agriculture chemical packaging limits the application of recycled products 1 . The ambition to incorporate more recycled plastics into products confronts the reality of the shortage of high-quality and volume plastic waste and reprocessed resins 37 . Regardless embracing plastic recycling, has the potential to generate substantial profits of up to USD$60 billion by 2030, within the petrochemicals and plastics sector 37 . However, utilizing recyclates as direct replacements for virgin plastics is crucial to undercut the production of the latter and to prevent the proliferation of low-end, disposable goods. A strategic shift in the market towards high-quality recyclable materials is essential for bridging the existing gap in the recycling ecosystem and for the realization of the sector’s financial potential.

Among other challenges to the unique composition of every plastic and availability of cheap virgin plastics, the lack of consistency and standardization in waste handling approaches are major obstacles across the globe. The Resin Identification Code (RIC), is defined for polymers under the 1-6 category, while category 7 includes all others 7 , with no dedicated class for nonrecyclable, biodegradable polymers such as polylactic acid, and elastomers including rubbers. Since the inception of RIC in 1988, the progress in polymer science has added several plastics into the market, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive tagging system including factors like colour for better material recycling. Similarly, certifications and permits associated with labelling should be updated to reflect modern scientific understanding and findings. Additionally, eco-labels, such as those indicating biodegradability, plastic-free, or eco-friendly, issued by third-party certifiers assist the plastic recycling ecosystem. For example, the label (green dot) introduced under the producer responsibility for plastic packaging products in Germany boosted the recovery of recyclable plastics 6 . In contrast, the positive impact can remain unrealized when the product features generic and self-declared misleading claims to greenwash and confuse consumer decision-making 38 . For example, “100% Recyclable” (Coca-Cola and Nestle) 39 , “Degradable” (Coco Thumb), and “Microplastics Free” (Wital tea) without scientific merit to attract green purchases amplify the gravity of the situation.

Environmental impacts of recycling

The use of plastic is anticipated to triple by 2060 compared to 2019, driven by the expanding global economy; however, the recycling rate may double during this period, creating a significant unintended environmental leakage 2 , 40 . Until now, the environment has been housing multiple layers of first-generation nonbiodegradable plastics that have transgressed different compartments 4 , which may unfold as a catastrophic environmental challenge. It is estimated that 19–23 Mt of plastic waste generated globally in 2016 entered aquatic ecosystems, but could reach up to 53 Mt annually by 2030 3 . Legacy plastic pollution is not just limited to marine and aquatic ecosystems. Due to the widespread use of plastics in agriculture and their limited recyclability, an estimated 12.5 Mt of plastics accumulate in agricultural soils annually 1 , 41 . Additionally, recycling alone cannot reverse the damage incurred due to the leakage of plastics already in the environment 21 , 35 .

Plastic recycling encompasses both positive and negative aspects, warranting a comprehensive evaluation to balance environmental benefits and burdens. Recycling plastic waste significantly reduces fossil fuel utilization, power consumption, and landfilling 30 , 42 . The ripple effect is a decline in the emission of greenhouse gases, thus lowering the carbon footprints while contributing to the global economy and direct jobs. In fact, it is emphasized that reprocessing 1 ton of plastic can save up to approximately 130 million kilojoules of energy 24 . A life cycle assessment (LCA) conducted on the environmental impact of 1) recycling plastic waste compared to alternative approaches and 2) application of secondary products instead of virgin materials marks a positive step toward climate control 30 . Similarly, several other LCA studies have confirmed the superiority of plastics as material over their alternative option such as aluminium bottles, paper, and cotton bags 43 , 44 . However, a notable limitation in several standard LCA methodologies lies in omitting a crucial factor—the long-term fate of chemicals and particulates released during EoL plastic 1 , 45 . The disadvantage of existing short-term LCAs in disregarding the consequences of chemical and particulate releases raises concerns about the overall efficacy of plastics and recycling as a solution to plastic pollution. This gap in evaluating the true ecological footprint of virgin and recyclate plastics (i.e., raw materials transported to a waste recycling facility for processing into a new materials or products) may result in unintended environmental and health costs.

Recycling facilities have been identified as potential hotspots and contributors of toxic and hazardous waste, however, there is limited attention to chemical or particle release from plastic recycling facilities. Despite the current and emerging technologies to recycle plastic waste, non-recoverable tiny plastic particles (microplastics) cannot be addressed with existing collection methods due to their exceptionally small size. Further, the size reduction and washing during mechanical recycling facilities tend to release significant microplastics into the environment 46 . About 13% of plastics infiltrate water or air as microplastics from recycling facilities in the UK 47 . A study on PET recycling facilities reveals microplastic releases range from approximately 23–1836 mg/L in wastewater that is distributed in the effluent (8–83 mg/L) and the sludge (52,166–68,866 mg/L) as it leaves the facility 48 . Microplastics generated during the recycling process are governed by the properties of plastics (polymer type or hardness) and environmental exposure 46 . Ideally, plastic recycling facilities are equipped with filters to prevent and mitigate environmental contamination, but it partially mitigates microplastic release and is not a comprehensive solution 47 . Additionally, the leaching of harmful plastic chemicals during and after recycling also poses a significant threat 29 . Recycled plastics exhibit higher levels of hazardous chemicals such as brominated flame retardants as legacy contaminants. The contamination not only hinders the wide application, it also poses health risks for workers and end-users 12 . With this, it is imperative to produce toxic chemical-free material through controls over what is being recycled and standards for recycled plastics and their usability in different sectors.

While chemical recycling can produce food-grade plastics and has been heralded to fix plastics recycling, it is financially risky and can have far-reaching environmental implications compared to virgin plastics production 8 , 21 . The damage to the environment through chemical recycling in terms of emissions, energy consumption, and water utilization surpasses those used in other technologies 49 . Meanwhile, mechanical recycling is believed to exhibit a lower overall impact on climate change than chemical recycling and energy recovery, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and photochemical ozone formation 42 . To address these concerns effectively, the transport and sorting of waste should be confined within closed spaces, filters should be installed and wastewater should be treated to prohibit the release of plastics and associated chemicals into the environment 36 , 50 . Despite an apparent increase in the plastic recycling rate, lower-grade polymers with a limited lifespan are eventually disposed of as waste, thus challenging the circular economy of plastics and environmental sustainability.

Inefficient waste collection, coupled with the necessity for sorting before recycling, requires transportation to dedicated waste handling facilities leading to inadvertent loss and an escalation in carbon footprints. However, the global plastic waste trade is built on the premise of exporting for recycling, often to lower-income countries 51 . Countries are also fraught with widespread environmental impacts and incredibly low recycling rates if accurately reported 52 . Further, regional policies have far-reaching effects on global plastics recycling dynamics. Until 2018, China had been the reprocessing house for more than 50% of PET bottles 53 , but the recent ban on foreign waste imports, including plastics, has left world recycling facilities scrambling 54 . High-income countries began exporting plastic waste to other low-income countries, particularly those in the global south 51 , 55 . Many of these low-income countries have become disproportionally impacted by plastic pollution due to overwhelming imports of plastic waste (for so-called “recycling”), as part of the global plastic waste trade 52 . These countries lack adequate recycling facilities, which has led to excessive open-dumping or burning of plastic waste, including waste-to-energy incineration 35 , 51 . Imported plastic, often of low quality, contaminated, or mislabelled, is diverted to landfilling and incineration, each contributing to negative environmental impacts. The other example of change in plastic waste dynamics includes the largest exporter of plastics (i.e., Japan), which saw a surge in reprocessing, while the use of virgin plastics increased in China which further increased the carbon footprint following the import ban 56 .

Achieving plastic circularity and plastic recycling in the Global Plastics Treaty

Currently, we are in the midst of a global plastic pollution problem driven by unsustainable plastic production and plastic consumption 20 . The plastics industry narrative has previously been framed around the unique recyclability of many plastic polymers, but the reality is that plastics have been grossly mismanaged 3 , 57 . While recycling plays a role in managing plastic waste, doubts linger if it is a holistic solution 21 . The combination of poor polymer and product design, the nature of mixed waste generated, inadequate and wide variations of waste management infrastructure, poor quality of post-recycling products, demand-supply gaps, and environmental, economic, and social impacts have resulted in unsustainable plastic waste generation 7 , 19 . With technological limitations and substandard industrial compliance, plastic recycling is not working. Globally, the recycling rates for plastic are paling in comparison to paper and metals, with a high recycling rate of aluminium at 76% 58 . Even if plastics are recycled, the environmental impacts are startling, particularly with chemical recycling 42 .

Addressing the challenge of reducing global plastic production is complex, particularly given the disparity in plastic consumption between developing and developed economies. With almost 4 billion people residing in developing countries utilizing considerably less plastic than their counterparts in developed nations, there exists a growing trend towards increased production and usage in these regions. Further, the global trade in plastic waste often involves shipping to countries with lower processing costs. The extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes have the potential to internalize the environmental costs of production and waste management, providing incentives to reduce the use of virgin plastics and improve the quality of recyclables 59 .

The transformative shift to global plastic sustainability demands a 50% reduction in future plastic demand, coupled with phasing out of fossil-derived plastics, a remarkable 95% recycling rate for retrievable plastics, and a transition to renewable energy sources to establish a sustainable circular plastics economy 60 . Although current technology for plastic recycling is yet not circular, robust steps in tandem with changing regulations and research efforts are needed to encourage a decline in the impact of plastics. The time lag to achieve a complete closed-loop recycling for all plastic produced accentuates the need to cap production and explore design-for-recyclability, extending beyond mere reducing and reusing these materials. Bridging the gap between escalating plastic production and effective recycling demands substantial immediate investment in research and infrastructure to maintain the plastic waste within the value chain without resorting to down-cycling or disposal.

Achieving sustainability and a circular economy requires recognizing the importance of methods beyond recycling, including product design, alternative materials, phasing out problematic plastics, curbing the consumption of virgin plastic materials, and adopting reduction and reuse strategies 23 (Fig. 1 ). The paradigm shift necessitates a decoupling from fossil fuel reliance and embracing recycled and biobased feedstock, towards CO 2 emission neutrality. Importantly, the focus extends to EoL considerations, where plastics should either be efficiently collected and economically recycled or designed to be completely biodegradable if dispersion is unavoidable 61 , 62 . Crucially, future polymer designs should not only meet traditional performance and cost but also incorporate safe and sustainable-by-design principles. A simplified plastic with a design-for-recyclability along with controlled chemicals, labels, and adhesive in finished products has the potential to encourage recycling rate 11 , 50 . Embracing a mono-material approach in product design, where single polymers are utilized without compromising performance, and innovative solutions such as debonding-on-demand techniques offer pathways to address the challenges posed by multilayer plastics products 61 . Additionally, establishing standards and global policies is crucial to capping plastic production and curbing the continuous flow of plastic waste into the environment 63 .

The reaction to the looming global threat of irreversible plastic pollution is through decreasing plastic emissions 64 . Life cycle analyses indicate net-zero emission plastics are achievable using current technology, through a synergistic approach that integrates biomass, CO 2 utilization, and attains a 70% effective recycling rate, which significantly reduces energy use and operational costs 65 . Further, addressing the global plastic waste crisis requires the implementation of internationally coordinated waste management strategies 64 . Countries are implementing economic instruments to stimulate plastic recycling via different methods under the polluter-pays principle including EPR 66 , deposit-refund schemes (DRS), tax on virgin plastics, landfill and incineration taxes, and pay-as-you-throw schemes 67 , 68 . For instance, DRS, a lucrative refund incentive once applied to glass bottles, successfully promotes collection and reduces plastic littering. DRS accumulates less contaminated plastics over the traditional single-stream recycling process. The scheme has incentivized as high as 95% of plastic bottle recycling in Norway whereas Ecuador reported an 80% collection of PET bottles in 2012 as compared to 30% in 2011 69 . Similarly, in 2019 plastic collection under DRS has increased in different countries including Denmark (94%), Croatia (89%), Estonia (87%), and Finland (90%) 69 .

The challenge of EoL plastic has been recognized by the international community with 175 United Nations member countries agreeing to eliminate plastic pollution with a legally binding plastic treaty instrument 70 . The international community with the ongoing Plastics Treaty negotiations have already established a zero draft document and an updated revised zero draft document, which includes elements to address inadequacies of current plastic recycling 50 . Those include primary plastic polymers, chemicals, and polymers of concern when recycling complex mixtures of plastic waste 71 . Additionally, problematic and avoidable single-use plastic products will be included in the Global Plastics Treaty as these are invariably difficult or impossible to recycle and should be phased out or replaced with sustainable alternatives 72 , 73 , 74 . Sustainable product design, performance, and practices such as reduction, reuse, refill, and repair will be emphasized.

Another important element of the Global Plastics Treaty includes the use of increased recycled plastic contents amidst the challenge of rising global plastic production, largely from virgin plastics 21 . To increase recycled plastic contents as part of the Global Plastics Treaty, governments could implement economic policy instruments to incentivise the price of recycled plastics compared to virgin plastics. For example, industries utilizing recycled plastics could be offered lower corporate taxes, whereas industries using virgin plastics would incur penalties (higher corporate taxes). The transition to a circular economy needs to reduce resource consumption and plastic pollution by moving away from the current linear economic model of plastic production 63 . Only focus on improved recycling and improvements in waste management facilities will promote increased production of waste as it will not cap production and will effectively lock-in the global community to business as usual.

Finally, the Global Plastics Treaty will also include elements of EPR, emissions and releases of plastic through its entire life cycle, transformational improvements to waste management, as well as a just transition for waste pickers who play a major role in driving the informal recycling sector in many jurisdictions. Overall, it will offer opportunities to improve plastic recycling and eliminate harmful chemicals used in plastic production, manufacture, and packaging.

Concluding remarks

An immense variety of plastic products comprising a complex mixture are used in every aspect of modern society. However, the sustainability of these invaluable materials has largely been ignored. A staggering 91% of plastic meets an alternate fate than recycling. To improve the sustainability of plastic recycling we need a coordinated global panacea of solutions, as there is no one silver bullet to solve the pervasive plastic pollution problem. Emerging recycling technologies will help contribute to the panacea of solutions, but without global coordination, such as the Global Plastics Treaty, they alone will not address the plastic pollution crisis until it is controlled at the source with plastic production caps. Under the Global Plastics Treaty, United Nations member countries could consider adjusting the international price of virgin plastics to reflect the true environmental and economic costs of plastic pollution on ecological and human health. Reducing global virgin plastic production and overall consumption will help the implementation of an effective Global Plastics Treaty that will comprise comprehensive elements to reduce plastic pollution and increase plastic recycling to achieve a circular economy.

Data availability

No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

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Acknowledgements

Nisha Singh acknowledges the financial support received through the JAMSTEC Young Researcher Fellowship and the Ocean Frontier Institute Visiting Researcher Fellowship. This perspective was also supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Grant/Award Number: RGPIN-2018-04119 to Tony R. Walker.

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N.S.: Conceptualization, Methodology, Discussion, Funding acquisition, Writing-original draft, review & editing. T.R.W.: Conceptualization, Methodology, Discussion, Funding acquisition, Writing-review & editing. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Singh, N., Walker, T.R. Plastic recycling: A panacea or environmental pollution problem. npj Mater. Sustain. 2 , 17 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44296-024-00024-w

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Living in a plastic world: Tackling plastic pollution

by Nanyang Technological University

Plastic pollution has emerged as one of our most pressing environmental issues with the increasing use of disposable plastics. As they are non-biodegradable, plastics accumulate in the environment, altering habitats and natural processes. Millions of wildlife are also trapped by plastic waste every year.

When plastics break down, they release toxic compounds that contaminate the environment. They also disintegrate into small pieces of plastic called microplastics. Microplastics are now found all over the globe and are linked to severe health effects such as metabolic disorders and organ damage.

Recycling plastics reduces the amount of plastic waste that would otherwise be discarded and conserves natural resources. However, only about 10% of plastic is currently recycled around the world. The figure is low in part because recycling some types of plastic, such as e-waste and marine plastic litter, is difficult. Chemical reactions that break down plastics into simpler components to be reused are also energy intensive.

From using e-waste plastics to culture cells to developing a greener method that breaks down plastics, researchers at NTU Singapore are solving some of the biggest challenges that stand in the way of recycling plastics and making strides in reducing plastic pollution .

Repurposing e-waste plastics to grow 'mini tumors' for laboratory testing

Plastics comprise a large portion of electronic waste (e-waste), and rapid technological advances, and high consumer demand drives its growing use in electronics. According to a UN report, the generation of e-waste is rising five times faster than the official recycling rate figures show. In 2022, e-waste generated 17 million tons of plastic globally.

Single-use plastics are also widely used in research and health care applications such as cell culture.

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is an e-plastic commonly used in the housings of devices such as keyboards and laptops. Repurposing plastics such as ABS for high value biomedical applications could be an attractive waste-to-resource strategy for effectively reducing plastic waste.

NTU scientists have developed a synthetic matrix to culture cells using ABS from discarded keyboards. The matrix is porous like a sponge and functions as a support structure, providing a framework for cells to attach and grow.

The matrix can culture spherical clusters of cells, called cancer spheroids, that resemble actual tumors. Due to their 3D shape, these "mini tumors" more accurately represent tumors than conventional cell cultures.

To fabricate the matrix, the scientists dissolved plastic scraps from discarded keyboards in an organic solvent, acetone, and poured the solution into a mold.

The matrix supported the growth of breast, colorectal and bone cancer spheroids. The cancer spheroids had properties similar to those grown using commercially available matrices and may be used for biomedical applications such as drug testing.

"Our innovation not only offers a practical means to reuse e-waste plastics but could also reduce the use of new plastics in the biomedical industry," said Assoc Prof Dalton Tay of NTU's School of Materials Science and Engineering, who led the research.

The research was reported in Resources, Conservation & Recycling .

Converting hard-to-recycle plastic waste into hydrogen and carbon additives for polymer foams

While some types of plastics can be repurposed into new products, it is not as easy to recycle other kinds of plastics. Household plastics, packaging waste and marine plastic litter recovered from the environment are all examples of plastic waste that are difficult to recycle. There are also limited economic benefits to treating mixed and contaminated plastics.

Researchers from NTU explored using difficult-to-recycle plastics as a source of solid carbon material for application in polymer foams. The researchers first obtained gas and oil by heating different types of plastic waste at high temperatures (600 degrees Celsius) in the absence of oxygen.

Then the gas and oil were heated at over 1,000 degrees Celsius to break down the molecules into solid carbon and hydrogen. The solid carbon can be added to polymer foam to increase its strength and resistance to abrasion for cushioning applications. The foam containing the synthesized solid carbon derived from plastic waste exhibited properties comparable to other carbon-based and conventional reinforcing materials available on the market.

At the same time, the hydrogen produced could be collected and used as fuel.

Published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials , the research is a milestone in finding a use for plastic waste that previously could not be recycled.

"We have developed a feasible approach to repurpose hard-to-recycle plastics, which is an important aspect of the circular economy," said lead investigator Assoc Prof Grzegorz Lisak of NTU's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

A bright way to break down plastics into valuable compounds

Although plastics can be broken down by heating them at high temperatures, such processes are energy intensive and generate greenhouse gases, contributing to global warming.

Addressing the need for greener methods of breaking down plastics, NTU scientists have developed a process that can upcycle most plastics into chemical compounds useful for energy storage.

The reaction uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a commercially available catalyst and occurs at room temperature. It can break down a wide range of plastics, including polypropylene, polyethylene and polystyrene, all commonly used in packaging and discarded as plastic waste.

Compared to conventional plastic recycling methods, the process requires much less energy.

First, the plastics are dissolved in the organic solvent called dichloromethane, making the plastic polymer chains more accessible to the photocatalyst. The solution is then mixed with the catalyst and flowed through transparent tubes where LED light shines on it.

The light provides the initial energy to break the carbon-carbon bonds in a two-step process with the help of the vanadium catalyst. The plastics' carbon-hydrogen bonds are oxidized, which makes them less stable and more reactive. After that, the carbon-carbon bonds are broken down.

The resulting end products are compounds such as formic acid and benzoic acid, which can be used to make other chemicals employed in fuel cells and liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs)—organic compounds that can absorb and release hydrogen through chemical reactions . LOHCs are being explored by the energy sector as a storage media for hydrogen.

According to Assoc Prof Han Soo Sen of NTU's School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Biotechnology, who led the study, the breakthrough not only provides a potential answer to the growing plastic waste problem but also reuses the carbon trapped in these plastics instead of releasing it into the atmosphere as greenhouse gases through incineration.

The method was reported in the journal Chem .

Yuxin Wang et al, Processing plastic waste via pyrolysis-thermolysis into hydrogen and solid carbon additive to ethylene-vinyl acetate foam for cushioning applications, Journal of Hazardous Materials (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132996

Chenfei Li et al, Upcycling of non-biodegradable plastics by base metal photocatalysis, Chem (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2023.07.008

Journal information: Journal of Hazardous Materials , Chem

Provided by Nanyang Technological University

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The Movement to Ban Plastic Production

Flames shoot out across an area bigger than a football field, and the glare can be seen in the sky for miles. The sound is like hundreds of thousands of gas burners in concert, and a terrible smell permeates the air.

“It kind of looks like the end of the world at times,” said Elida Castillo, program director of Chispa Texas, a Latinx grassroots organizing program. This apocalyptic scene from 2021 plays out regularly in San Patricio County in Texas at a plastics manufacturing plant operated by Gulf Coast Growth Ventures, a joint venture between ExxonMobil and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation. 

The Growth Ventures plant is the largest ethane steam cracker facility in the world, making nurdles—small plastic pellets—that are the building blocks for plastic manufacturing. Gulf Coast Growth Ventures did not respond to a request for comment, but in a video the company posted online , these ground flares are compared to “a giant barbecue” used to burn off excess gas whenever nurdle production is started or stopped.

Castillo says the flares usually last about two days, during which time local community members have reported their windows shaking. Community members see a correlation between the plant and worsening health, too. “We have people who are dying from all types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, lung disease,” Castillo says. “The amount of kids with asthma in our communities … it’s always been high, but it just seems to increase every year.” 

That’s in addition to the environmental impacts of plastic manufacturing. Castillo says most of the nurdles produced at the Texas plant are exported to China, where they are turned into plastic products. But in the past four years, more than 2 million nurdles have been collected in the Gulf of Mexico after having leaked from production facilities like Gulf Coast Growth Ventures. 

Gulf Coast Growth Ventures alone consumes 12.5 millions of gallons of water a day to operate in the region, which has been under drought restrictions for the past two years. In March 2024, the region advanced into Stage 2 drought restrictions , which limit residential use of water sprinklers to one day every other week. Meanwhile, industries use up more than 50% of the water supply in Nueces and San Patricio Counties, according to the Texas Water Development Board.

The harmful intersection of environmental justice and plastics is keenly felt in communities of color like Castillo’s, where these industries are disproportionately concentrated. Around the world, frontline communities like this one are paying the price for plastics every step of the way: the production, manufacturing, purported recycling, pollution, and ultimate disposal of single-use plastics. 

By the time that straw gets stuck in that turtle’s nose, it has left a wake of destruction in its path.”

More than 99% of plastic is produced from chemicals that come from fossil fuels. In addition to nurdles, San Patricio County is also a major exporter of liquified natural gas, which countries like China are now using to manufacture plastics . The war in Ukraine has allowed gas corporations to push demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports , in the name of energy security, locking countries into an even longer term commitment to fossil fuels (and their emissions and pollution).

Negotiations are underway for a global plastics treaty , but its contents are still murky and hotly debated. 

Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš is the founder of Azul , a grassroots organization that works with Latinx communities to protect coasts and oceans. She has participated in the plastics treaty talks and says that the sea turtle with a plastic straw stuck in its nose has become a symbol of the plastics crisis in the public’s mind, but the problem is much, much more pervasive.

“The fact is, by the time that straw gets stuck in that turtle’s nose, it has left a wake of destruction in its path,” she says. “It is very sad, but that is only the last part of it.”

Can Countries Agree on a Solution?

Nearly 500 miles east of San Patricio County, between Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and New Orleans, an industrial corridor along the lower Mississippi River has come to be known as “Cancer Alley” because of the concentration of petrochemical plants and refineries—about 150 industrial facilities—and the resulting outsized rates of health harms , including cancer.

“Those communities are 47 times more likely to have cancer. So for them, what they need is for us to produce less [plastic],” says Erin Simon, vice president of Plastic Waste and Business at the World Wildlife Fund and a delegate at the most recent round of global plastics treaty talks —the fourth of five rounds of treaty discussions, which took place in April 2024 in Ottawa, Canada.

The talks have been taking place since 2022, when the United Nations adopted a resolution to develop a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. Confoundingly, a number of plastics industry representatives attended the talks in Ottawa and were afforded more access than journalists. By the end of the negotiations, there was no clarity on a crucial provision : reducing new plastic production.  Plastic production continues to rise exponentially .

“When you walk into a bathroom and a tub is overflowing, you don’t start mopping. You have to turn off that tap,” says Jackie Nuñez, the founder of The Last Plastic Straw and advocacy and engagement manager for the Plastic Pollution Coalition.

Activists see any form of recycling without reducing production as deeply ineffective at addressing the underlying injustices of plastic. Chemical recycling, for example (which is being touted by some politicians in Washington), breaks down plastic waste and can potentially remake it to the same quality as virgin materials—an arguable material improvement over plastic’s normal down-cycling . But critics say the process is just a euphemism for burning plastic , creating more toxic output—along with all the negative health effects that accompany it. 

Recycling can only be a small part of the solution—if at all—because it is premised on magical thinking.

Many advocates say there is no place in a circular economy for single-use plastic, decrying plastic recycling as the recirculation of toxic chemicals, which then accumulate and exacerbate the problems. 

Recycling can only be a small part of the solution—if at all—because it is premised on magical thinking, according to Vivek Maru, founder and CEO of Namati, which aims to advance social and environmental justice through the law. “The U.S. has such an outsized influence on the global economy, and so I think it’s absolutely crucial for justice for communities here, and for communities abroad, that the U.S. take a bold stance and support a strong plastics treaty that is about reduction.”

“I want to see everyone on the same page”—whether that’s banning plastics, or putting fees on plastic bags, or otherwise regulating them out of the picture—“because then we can see a real shift in the market-side dynamics of those materials,” says Trey Sherard, the Anacostia Riverkeeper, who leads advocacy and outreach work to restore the Anacostia River in Washington D.C.

Maru and other environmental justice advocates, as well as environmental groups like Greenpeace, are calling for a strong treaty that will cut plastic production by at least 75% by 2040. That means going a lot further than chemical recycling, which Gutiérrez-Graudiņš says “is wishful thinking at best and predatory at worst.” 

Global South Impacts

On the other end of the plastic process, countries in the Global South have long borne the brunt of plastic waste. The World Wildlife Fund found that low-income countries incur a total lifetime cost of plastic 10 times higher than that of rich countries, despite consuming almost three times less plastic per capita. 

Another pressing question in the ongoing treaty negotiations is whether higher-consuming countries will take commensurate responsibility for the plastic they create, consume, and throw away. Despite accounting for only 15% of the world population, consumers in the Global North account for 40% of global plastic consumption.

“One of the things we hear a lot is that we have to get this [treaty] done very quickly,” says Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, who attended the talks in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 2023 and Ottawa, Canada, in April 2024. “And I understand that it is a crisis, but I think that we have to do it the right way. Are we actually listening to the voices that are the most impacted? We have to look at the whole context of—I don’t like to say life cycle—the death cycle of plastics. We don’t want to be here 30 years from now looking at what could have been.”

The last day of talks in Ottawa went until 3 a.m. Many hours of deliberation were spent in working groups on particular issues so the following plenary, where decisions can be made, started late and ran long.

“We were all very tired and very hungry. But, at the same time, there’s a lot of excitement,” says Gutiérrez-Graudiņš. “All options are on the table. We can still—and we should—do right not just by our current generations but our future generations.”

Gutiérrez-Graudiņš remains optimistic for a binding treaty that could put a cap on plastic production. At the same time, she is concerned that the process requires a consensus, not just a majority vote. 

“We have 170 parties, and we can have one or two that are just very vocal and throw a wrench in the work of everyone else,” she says. 

With the last round of treaty discussions scheduled to take place in Busan, Korea, in November, the UN aims to have an agreement in place by the end of 2024, but there is a long way to go. It remains up in the air whether the treaty will include provisions to drastically reduce plastic production and address calls for distributive justice within and among communities disproportionately impacted by plastic.

Maru is advocating for a just transition, including a 75% reduction in plastic production that involves countries most burdened by plastic waste.

“There could be a real flourishing of industries that are more harmonious, more sustainable, to rise up and take the place of this toxic disposable industry that is poisoning all of us,” Maru says, pointing to the examples of raffia bags and gourds informed by his work in Sierra Leone.

Gutiérrez-Graudiņš continues to work toward solutions to the plastic problem in her community, including by advocating for a reusable bag initiative. She recounts the mock concern, the “condescension and paternalism” she and her fellow activists faced as lobbyists and pollsters told her that “people are too poor to care.” But these are the same people most affected by plastics, and they know the stakes are high.

Back in San Patricio County, Elida Castillo and her community are fighting for more of a commitment to environmental justice. She said she is fighting against decades of misinformation and manipulation from the oil and gas industry, and now the petrochemical industry.

And the pushback is becoming more sophisticated everywhere, says Gutiérrez-Graudiņš. “In our everyday lives, we need to question things. Why are they speaking? What are they profiting? Where is this coming from? From me to you to everything we see, we have to become very critical and well-versed citizens and people.”

The imperative of persisting through pushback to make solutions happen is universal. That’s true for everyone, not just those in communities feeling the harshest effects of these plastic injustices.  “Just because we have these facilities where we live doesn’t mean your voice can’t also help us,” Castillo says. “What is happening where we live is impacting the world.”

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Combined effects of plastic pollution and seawater flooding amplify threats to coastal plant species

Two of the planet's more pressing environmental stressors have the potential to alter the growth and reproductive output of plants found right along the world's coastlines, a new study suggests.

The research, published in the journal Environmental Pollution , is one of the first to examine the combined effects of seawater flooding and microplastic pollution on coastal plants.

It showed that both stressors had some effects on the species tested, with microplastics impacting the plants' reproduction while flooding caused greater tissue death.

However, being exposed to both microplastics and flooding together -- a threat likely to increase as a result of climate change and plastic use -- had a more pronounced impact on their resource allocation.

This in turn led to the plants exhibiting altered growth and experiencing a short-term suppression in their photosynthetic efficiency, responses affect the plants' ability to capture water, nutrients and sunlight, and contribute to ecosystem wellbeing.

The study was led by experts in plastic pollution and plant biology from the University of Plymouth's School of Biological and Marine Sciences and International Marine Litter Research Unit.

They say it signposts the potential for microplastics to present an elevated risk when in combination with additional stressors like seawater flooding and that, as a result, establishing the threats presented by multiple co-occurring stressors on ecosystem resilience is a priority.

Dr Winnie Courtene-Jones, the study's lead author, said: "This research highlights the potential for microplastics, composed of conventional and biodegradable plastic, to detrimentally affect plant functioning. Moreso, it indicates that the effect of microplastics can be magnified by other environmental factors such as rising sea levels and coastal flooding. Studies such as this help us appreciate the potential harm posed by microplastics to a range of organisms, and ecosystem resilience generally."

The study was carried out as part of BIO-PLASTIC-RISK, a £2.6million project led by the University and supported by the Natural Environment Research Council.

It focused on buck's horn plantain (Plantago coronopus), a low-growing perennial native to Europe, Asia and North Africa -- but also found in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand -- which commonly grows in sand dune and beach shingle coastal habitats.

Plants were grown in soil containing conventional or biodegradable plastics for 35 days before being flooded with seawater for 72 hours, replicating the kinds of flooding event increasingly associated with storms and coastal storm surges.

They were then grown for a further 24 days with scientists monitoring plant survival in addition to factors such as plant size, photosynthetic efficiency and flower production.

Dr Mick Hanley, Associate Professor in Plant-Animal Interactions and senior author on the study, added: "On a global scale, habitats such as coastal dunes and grasslands help protect communities in the form of coastal defences and wind protection. They also play a critical role in supporting biodiversity, but are coming under increasing threat from climate change and a number of other environmental factors. This study emphasises that we should not be looking at those threats in isolation as, put together, their impacts can be more pronounced. That is particularly worrying given that both microplastic pollution and coastal flooding are projected to worsen and intensify over the coming decades unless ambitious global actions are implemented."

• Endangered Plants
• Agriculture and Food
• Environmental Issues
• Environmental Awareness
• Environmental Science
• Environmental impact assessment
• Global warming controversy
• Mid-Atlantic United States flood of 2006
• Global warming
• Eutrophication
• Climate model
• Attribution of recent climate change

Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Plymouth . Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

• W. Courtene-Jones, S.W.H. Cheung, R.C. Thompson, M.E. Hanley. Effect of biodegradable and conventional microplastic exposure in combination with seawater inundation on the coastal terrestrial plant Plantago coronopus . Environmental Pollution , 2024; 360: 124573 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124573

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The selections "Washed Up Plastic Makes Art with a Vital Message" and "Gandhi: Truth In Action" both have lessons in them. Identify the lesson in each selection and tell which one you think is most important and why. Back up your statement with evidence from the text.

We can see that one lesson from "Washed Up Plastic Makes Art with a Vital Message" is about the importance of cleaning up of the environment from pollution.

While one of the lessons in " Gandhi: Truth In Action " is about how one can take up a political action without using violence means.

Lesson actually refers to what someone learns or will learn from a particular story , subject matter, discourse or film. In other words, we can say that lesson is a message being passed across.

Thus, we see the above lessons that one can get from the stated articles .

Learn more about Gandhi https://brainly.com/question/479289

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What type of writing has strong opinions backed by research? a. narrative b. story telling c. argumentative d. poetry

Arguementitive

Explanation:

Arguementitive usually has alot of facts to back it up

The type of writing has strong opinions backed by research is argumentative research . Thus, option C is correct.

"Creative and methodical activity performed to improve the reservoir of knowledge" is what research is. It entails gathering, organizing, and analyzing information to get a better knowledge of a subject, with a special focus on mitigating sources of bias and inaccuracy .

An argumentative research paper is analytical, yet it uses facts as evidence to support its thesis, much like a lawyer does. For example, you may look for information to support the claim that ancient Egyptian women were the first feminists.

Argumentative research is a style of writing in which strong opinions are supported by research. As a result, option C is correct.

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https://brainly.com/question/18723483

Write a short paragraph explaining how the theme developed in your story. Cite quotations and page numbers from your novel or short story to support your ideas.i read Strangers that Come to Town text

A book's theme is usually derived from the emotional development of characters or from the consequences these characters face as a result of their actions. By using your theme in the right way, you end up creating an emotional connection between your readers and characters.

what is your opinion on magration Should people migrate or should they just stay and work for their country​

Migration helps in improving the quality of life of people. It helps to improve the social life of people as they learn about a new culture, customs, and languages which helps to improve brotherhood among people. The migration of skilled workers leads to greater economic growth in the region.

IDENTIFY Which actor is speaking the lines of the prologue in Pyramus and thisby? How can you tell?

The actor that is speaking the lines of the prologue in Pyramus and Thisbe is Quince.

Peter Quince 's character is a carpenter who is very ambitious . His ambition was to do a play for the nobles that lived in Athens , he then assembles his fellow craftsmen to do this.

Hence it is correct to state that the actor that did the prologue in Pyramus and Thisbe is Quince because he is the character that assigns the parts to the other characters .

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Mansfield references fur clothing throughout “Miss Brill.” What do furs symbolize in the story? greed and excess social status comfort and luxury financial opportunity

The inference shows that the thing that the furs symbolize in the story is C. comfort and luxury.

It should be noted that an inference simply means the conclusion that can be deduced based on the information given in a literary work.

In this case, the inference shows that the thing that the furs symbolize in the story is comfort and luxury.

Therefore, the correct option is C .

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Will mark Brainliest if your answer is correct. In Chapter 13, Betsie encouraged Corrie to thank God for the fleas in their barracks, but Corrie could find no good reason to do so. What did they discover in Chapter 14 that changed Corrie's mind?

Finally, Corrie returns to the image of the blue sweater, which Nollie sent to her in Scheveningen. In prison, Corrie used the sweater for warmth and as a reminder of the world beyond her prison cell. When Betsie dies, Corrie feels the physical loss of her sister, but believes they will reunite in heaven. Although Corrie cannot keep the lice-ridden sweater, she converts the sweater into a memory of her time with Betsie. Now the bond between the sisters is spiritual rather than physical. Despite the tragedy of Betsie’s death, Corrie feels hopeful at the close of the chapter

hope it helps you ~♥~

blablablablabla actually I don't know the answer

Identify the category of obstacle that best describes each example,

Eleanor - changes in motivation

Mateo - economic obstacle

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Sienna - educational obstacle

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Write a description of a crowded place before and during a sudden burst of heavy rain.

The right response would be, Heavy progression of Water is unexpected weighty downpours cause weighty progression of water that can then cause flooding.

Flooding is the flood of water. Whenever the water levels expansions in the streams or seas, the water floods out of them and lowers in the dry land. The flood makes its own particular manner and move in the space of incline.

Floods are brought about by many reasons. The principal reasons of flooding are Heavy precipitation, or the softening of ice from the mountains.

Abrupt downpours cause weighty progression of water. At the point when there are a ton of precipitation, the water in streams or seas increments and hence floods after a specific level.

This flood of water causes flooding and the water discovers some way towards the messy regions because of the weighty progression of water. This is the way floods enter in urban communities of the areas of incline in the wake of spilling over from a specific level.

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Type the verb in this sentence Have those socks been washed in the last month

been washed.

It is a passive verb phrase.

Dispersed particles in colloids shows two phenomenon: 1- 2-

Tyndall effect is created when the dispersed colloid particles scatter light. Explanation: When a beam of light travels through a colloid, the colloidal particles in the solution prevent the beam from passing through fully. The light is scattered when it collides with colloidal particles.

Read the lines from langston hughes's poem "i, too, sing america." i am the darker brother. they send me to eat in the kitchen when company comes, but i laugh, and eat well, and grow strong. why does the speaker use the word "brother" in the first line of the stanza? to indicate that he is someone’s brother to indicate that his family makes him eat in the kitchen to indicate that the arriving company is family to indicate that people belong to same metaphorical family

D: to indicate that people belong to the same metaphorical family

Answer: The answer is D on Edge 2023

Hope you all have an amazing day and make sure to take care of yourself! ^v^

Which line from the poem contains the strongest example of alliteration? OA. And watched the smoke that rises from the pipes OB. Curled once about the house and fell asleep C. The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes D. Scuttling across the floors of silent seas

Alliteration is the same beginning sound being repeated throughout the sentence. In sentence D, the "ssss" sound is being repeated at the beginning of a majority of the words.

Hope this helped!

Which of the following is the most likely global climate change? a. a decrease in the overall temperature of the Earth b. an increase in the overall temperature of the Earth c. an increase in the number of cold climates d. no change to global climate Please select the best answer from the choices provided A B C D Mark this and return

The statement that most likely global climate change is that there is an increase in the overall temperature of the Earth.

The word climate change is applied to determine the long - term modifications or fluctuations in temperatures structures .

These environmental modifications may be earthy or natural , but human acts have been the direct driver of climate change since the 1800s , owing to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil , and gas that produces heat-trapping gases .

Therefore, option B is correct.

Learn more about the climate change , refer to:

https://brainly.com/question/13105326

Write an essay or a poem about your unique Filipino characteristics and how you can use these characteristics to promote empathy after the national elections​

Writing such essay of this type involves every element of description . Hence, you are to write a descriptive essay . Pick a character who represent people's choice such that it promotes empathy .

Features of a descriptive essay include the following:

Therefore, writing such essay must be full with adjectives to qualify the nature of the character and draws people's empathy for similar candidate in the election. Such character is found in General Delong in the Filipinos movie such as General's Daughter .

learn more about descriptive essay : https://brainly.com/question/988168

What is the term for the dismissal of one’s own culture in order to adopt majority culture? A. Indoctrination. B. Cohabitation. C. Assimilation. D. Misappropriation.

C - cultural assimilation is when a minority comes to resemble the values, religion, etc. of the majority

You studied literary works from the Romantic Period, the Victorian Age, and the Modern Era. Describe the common themes from each era. Then explain the main elements of the historical context that contributed to the themes in each era.

The theme in the Romantic Period include emotions and imaginations, and social class.

It should be noted that a theme simony means the underlying message that can be conveyed in a literary work.

In this case, the themes in the Victorian age include loss of faith, modernity , and change.

Lastly, the themes of the modern era include incorporation, and parody.

Learn more about theme on:

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She (learn) to swim when she was young . Can anyone please answer fill the blank

Answer: learned

      She learned to swim when she was young.

     "When she was young" is past tense , so "learn" must also be past tense. The past tense form of learn is learned , completing the sentence and filling in the blank .

it is in past tense so it would be conjugated with -ed.

Hi guys i need help this is my last chance which example best shows how speeches can be interactive? a. kyle follows his teacher's advice on how to reorganize his speech. b. raj leaves time at the end of his speech to answer questions from the audience. c. mark thinks of a great point as he's delivering his speech and throws it in at the end. d. njoya makes sure his speech is well researched before he presents it.

The answer is B- Raj leaves time at the end of his speech to answer questions from the audience

PLEASE HELP ASAP!! (Picture)

2. Cats are better pets than dogs.

Only mentions the positive aspects of having a cat as a pet, and mentions both positive and negative when refering to dogs.

Dramatic irony creates suspense because: O A. the audience is waiting for the character to find out what the audience already knows . B. the audience gains knowledge at the same time as the characters. C. the author slows down the plot to make the events seem more important. D. the character does something that makes the audience feel sympathy for that character.

A. The audience is waiting for the character to find out what the audience already knows

That's the definition of dramatic Irony. Think of like romance movies when someone has a crush on the main character, but they don't know find out until something dramatic happens towards the end of the film. The audience knows pretty much the entire time, but the character has no clue.

Can anyone pls give me some points that I can include in writting this para 50 points!!! Write a paragraph on “Being Human in the age of Artificial Intelligence.”​

- The rise in convenience of technology and people

- AI replacing jobs

- Waryness of AI technology

- Potential risks of AI

- What AI has that humans don't (and vice versa)

pls help and thank you ​

1- The music from the bar interrupted our sleep.

2- They read the book.

3- John started the rumors.

4- The stainmaster cleaned the carpet.

5- The large iceberg hit the Titanic.

6- Bright lights illuminated the stage.

Why does Akala ask the audience to put their hands on their hearts? What does this have to do with hip hop or Shakespeare?

He tells the audience to put their hands on their hearts because he is trying to prove that hip hop and shakespeare have different tempos, and the rhythm can determine type of writing. Both hip hop and shakespeare can be very similar.

He is trying to make a connection between hip hop and Shakespeare.

Which statement best describes the theme conveyed in these lines? a man can make more money with the help of his family. each villager has different needs during times of war. successful people are always creative and hardworking. you can find opportunities for success even in bleak times.

The statement that best describes the theme conveyed in these lines is: "you can find opportunities for success even in bleak times." (Option D)

The theme in a story is principal message that the author is communicating to the readers or the audience. There are other examples of themes. They are:

Learn more about themes at:

https://brainly.com/question/1519678

Answer: You can find opportunities for success even in bleak times.

You need to re-write the ending or resolution of your movie choice. you need to write a script of a resolution scene between the hero and villain. the script must include the hero and villain using a mediator to resolve their conflict. make sure to include the following: a) adescriptionofthescenewherethemediationtakesplace.the description must have details of the surroundings, night or day, time of year, temperature, etc. b) the name and description of the mediation c) thedialoguebetweencharacters d) how resolution was reached during the meeting e) even if the movie you pick is rated r your mediation scene must be pg f) your script/dialogue should be at least 2 page in length

A script is a document that is written to be performed . Hence, a script is expected to have climax and denouement .

The hero or heroine , even if his or her actions are not necessarily heroic , this is the character through whose eyes the writer tells the story and makes the point they are trying to extol . However, the opposite is the villain is the one that acts to hinder the progress of the hero . Most of the time, he (villain) is against the will of the hero.

Therefore, a script that is well written will have the above.

learn more about script : https://brainly.com/question/3700565

Please help!! 25 points. 2

As the storm approached, the old-timers reminded one another that they'd ridden out many hurricanes before. Once again, when the evacuation orders came out, they obdurately refused to leave. What does the word "obdurately" mean in this context? Use these dictionary entries to answer the question: ob- (prefix) completely dur (root) hard, strong O foolishly O stubbornly O nervously O quietly

Dictionary entries are the words and their meanings with their synonyms. The word ' obdurately ' in the text means stubborn . Thus, option B is correct.

Obdurately is a word that is used to show the stubborn and persistent person that is reluctant to follow the orders and tries to resist.

As in the text, the word is used to show the rigid and tenacious nature of the old-timers does not want to follow the order of the evacuation.

Therefore, option B. stubborn is the correct meaning of the word obdurately .

Learn more about obdurately here:

https://brainly.com/question/13260797

Which sentence demonstrates correct punctuation? A. Kaylie told Martza that she needed: to wash the dishes, and finish vacuuming the den. B. Dakhim wrote to the librarian; he wanted to express his appreciation for her hard work. C. While babysitting for the Andersons, Chris wrote a paper and she finished her book. D. Vladimir and Nadya traveled to Siberia on January, 1 to visit their aunt, and uncle.

While babysitting for the Andersons, Chris wrote a paper and she finished her book.

The other senteces have colons or commas whereas they are not needed

Marigolds story! Identify one example of figurative language on page 214. Quote the example.

"The marigolds are tall as a tree."

After completing a project in one of your classes, your teacher asks you to write an additional piece in which you talk about how the assignment went and what you learned from it. The purpose of this piece of writing can BEST be described as . . .

Answer: to reflect

• Our Burning Planet

PHOTO ESSAY

Plastic pollution – western cape winter storms leave piles of garbage along rivers and beaches.

The intense storms that lashed the Western Cape coast over the winter months have left behind masses of man-produced waste and litter.

Plastic bags, baby food packaging, microplastics, medical waste, shoes and other items of clothing have been found lining some of the beaches and rivers of the Western Cape.

After weeks of heavy rains and strong winds, shocking photos and videos of the accumulation of waste have been shared across social media.

When Daily Maverick went out to photograph the pollution along rivers and beaches in some areas of Cape Town this week, we found enormous amounts of plastic items, nurdles and discarded clothing. This is not only an environmental problem that affects land, freshwater and marine ecosystems, but is also a human problem, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has previously said .

Most of what we found were microplastics; the end product after plastic waste is distributed by wind and water, building up in the ocean for decades before slowly decomposing.

As UCT researchers have explained, many different kinds of aquatic animals become entangled in or consume these microplastics. This can either kill them or severely reduce their appetite, causing biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, and contributing to climate change.

And it’s not just the animals that are consuming plastic, but humans too , with nanoplastics found in the brain, lungs, arteries, semen and placenta.

South Africa contributes a shocking 35% of the plastic pollution leaking into waterways and the marine environment in southern and eastern Africa, according to the IUCN study on Regional Results on Plastic Pollution from Eastern and Southern Africa .

These images are not unique to Cape Town or South Africa – pollution is a global crisis. Everyone – residents, government and civil society – needs to work together to prevent these disasters and change consumer behaviour. DM

• Cape of Storms
• Kristin Engel
• Storm Water

All Comments 1

We, as a species, have a knack for leaving our mark as it were.

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