Don’t Let Plastics Completely Overhaul The Humanity

Introduction

Zach Goldsmith once stated, “Of all the waste we generate, plastic bags are perhaps the greatest symbol of our throwaway society. They are used, and then forgotten, and they leave a terrible legacy.” Plastics have become a major problem our world is currently facing in this generation. In 2016, the global production of plastics reached 335 million metric tons, with 60 million metric tons produced in Europe alone. The most compelling evidence of the uncontrolled increase in the production of plastics is seen in every corner of our planet.

Environmental Impact of Plastics

Plastics produce harmful toxins that have negative effects on the environment, such as Bisphenol A, Organotin Compounds, and Plasticizers. Bisphenol A is a chemical used to make polycarbonate plastics that are found in some food or drink packaging. Regarding invertebrate species, according to the USEPA final Report (2014), BPA showed high chronic aquatic toxicity. Bisphenol A releases carcinogens that can cause cancers; it can also damage brain structure, cause hyperactivity and impaired learning, and decrease the immune system (USEPA, 2014). Similarly, organotin compounds, according to Ross (2001), are used in three main areas: (1) heat stabilizers; (2) catalytic agents; (3) biocidal compounds. However, in a study by Stoner et al. (2007), organotin compounds release toxic materials such as triethyltin hydroxide, a poisonous chemical that can cause severe headaches, affect the nervous system, cause muscle weakness, and even lead to death. Animals suffer greatly from these effects. Further experiments conducted by Magee et al. (2003) showed that triethyltin hydroxide resulted in progressive weakness in rats’ nervous systems, leading to their death within five days. Additionally, Plasticizers, which are produced by a reaction of alcohol with an acid such as adipic acid or phthalic anhydride, can cause endocrine disruption, significantly impacting the central nervous systems of animals. With billions of plastics produced annually containing similar toxic content, the level of toxicity rises due to the massive amounts of plastics irresponsibly discarded into the environment.

Efforts and Solutions

To address these issues, youth and environmentalists have launched campaigns to recycle, reuse, and reduce the use of plastics. Notably, the government in Ireland successfully implemented a taxed plastic policy, reducing plastic waste by 90% (Convery, McDonnell, & Ferreira, 2007). If such initiatives are adopted globally, we can prevent the death of 100,000 marine creatures due to plastic entanglement, reduce the impact on two-thirds of the world's fish stocks from plastic ingestion, and avoid the approximate one million sea creatures dying from plastics annually. The persistence of plastics, due to their complex polymer structure, makes them difficult to decompose. For instance, a single glass bottle can take up to 1 million years to decompose. Other plastics, like monofilament fishing lines, take 600 years, while plastic beverage bottles take about 450 years. This poses a significant threat to future generations, raising concerns that the future might be engulfed in plastics, leading to a lack of fresh air to breathe.

Innovative Solutions

Innovations are being developed to address plastic degradation. One proposed solution is chemical decomposition through combustion, which is relatively easy and inexpensive compared to using microorganisms. However, the odor and toxic gases produced during combustion present significant challenges. Companies like Wheelabrator Technologies Inc. have already implemented this method. In Wheelabrator’s clean energy plants, waste is burned, and the heat generated from combustion is converted into electricity with controlled emissions (Wheelabrator Technologies, 2020). These waste-to-energy plants not only manage municipal waste in an environmentally friendly way but also supply electricity to households and businesses.

Biodegradable Alternatives

Another breakthrough in addressing the plastic problem is the discovery of bacteria that consume plastic. Ideonella sakaiensis is a bacterium that breaks down poly(ethylene terephthalate), a polymer used to make plastic products. It functions by secreting an enzyme known as PETase, which splits certain chemical bonds in PET, leaving smaller molecules that the bacteria can absorb, using the carbon as food (Yoshida et al., 2016). In this context, bioplastics are also recommended by environmentalists. Bioplastics, made from biodegradable materials such as vegetable fats and oils, can easily degrade. While environmentalists encourage manufacturers to produce bioplastics, manufacturers point out the disadvantage of their short shelf life. Furthermore, educating the public is another effective solution. Mr. Darrell Blatchley, an American environmentalist, conducted a seminar at Malayan Colleges Mindanao, educating students by presenting evidence of how human actions have contributed to the plastic pollution crisis. Videos on platforms like YouTube vividly show the irresponsible disposal of plastics into water resources, witnessed by students.

Conclusion

Realizing the impact of our actions on Mother Nature is crucial, as these actions will inevitably affect us. For instance, large amounts of plastics end up on the shores of Manila Bay. It is time to make a change. We cannot allow plastics to completely overhaul humanity.

References

• Convery, F., McDonnell, S., & Ferreira, S. (2007). The most popular tax in Europe? Lessons from the Irish plastic bags levy. Environmental and Resource Economics, 38(1), 1-11.
• Ross, M. (2001). Organotin compounds. Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology.
• Stoner, L. C., et al. (2007). The toxicity of organotin compounds. Environmental Science & Technology.
• Magee, P. N., et al. (2003). Effects of triethyltin hydroxide on the nervous system of rats. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health.
• USEPA. (2014). Bisphenol A: Final Report. United States Environmental Protection Agency.
• Wheelabrator Technologies. (2020). Waste-to-energy process. Wheelabrator Technologies Inc.
• Yoshida, S., et al. (2016). A bacterium that degrades and assimilates poly(ethylene terephthalate). Science, 351(6278), 1196-1199.