So if asked what are the things that you can’t live without , you would probably say things like food , sleep, mobile, internet and also plastic. Yes plastic!. Plastic has become a very important part of our life ,we can’t imagine a single day without plastic.
Starting from our toothbrush bristles to huge machines used in industries is made of plastic in some way or the other. Scientifically plastic is an organic compound that is malleable and can be molded in any shape but if we speak generally plastic is something which is inevitable and erasing the use of plastic and it’s product from our lives will change our lifestyles dramatically.
Use of plastic has increased drastically since 1960s .Plastic has replaced use of wood , stone, horn, leather , metal , ceramics etc because of its’ low cost, ease of manufacturing, versatility, imperviousness to water. Invention of plastic was a boon to mankind but its’ over usage has changed the scenario.
Plastic indeed was a super invention but as we know everything has a drawback – plastic do not decompose easily it takes 500-1000 years for decomposition. While signing an agreement in the year 2019, hosted by UN-led World Environment Day India’s Environmental Minister Harsh Vardhan declared “It is the beginning of the end of plastic menace” but the statement seems quite contradicting after seeing the September 2017 report of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) which collected data from 60 major cities and said that the country produces about 25,940 tonnes of plastic waste a day out of which 43 percent are packaging waste.
In Indian consumes 11kg plastic a day and a American 109kg per day.The issue of plastic in our environment, particularly in water, is a global disaster. A loaded dump-truck full of plastic goes into water, almost every minute, disturbing the habitat of water animals and polluting the water.
Getting rid of plastic from our lives is not possible nor covetable. Plastic is also beneficial to the environment. It helps in keeping food fresh, preventing it from going waste. Plastic is aseptic, long lasting and reusable. In the United States, approximately 100% of common type of plastic is collected, polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, but only 30% is recycled, approximately.
There is no system or plan to recycle them, therefore, they got dumped into water, making it polluted. In the developing countries, the scenario is worse, as they has no proper waste plan, but the global economy has created a global flood of plastics. Plastics that is not recycled goes to land fill but actually it gets dumped into nature.
Managing the waste products is actually critical but it can be acquired with good plan and tricks. It is not easy to band straws and plastic bags but government could pass legislation for disposing of plastic waste. Standardising recycling rules can also help, if imposed by government.
Customers or the users will also have to appreciate with it. There are so much plastic we consume or use, but primary steps like giving up plastic straws can really help.
How to reduce plastic pollution
- Carry your own reusable water bottle or coffee sipper with you. Carry reusable shopping bags made up of cloth or jute.
- Use your existing plastic bag as long as you can, and later bring out your creativity in it.
- Clean up your residential area. Remember, every bit of plastic you pick up, is equal to one less bit of plastic in the nature.
- Speak for the change. Support various initiatives taken by different groups to solve plastic problems.
For better recycling techniques and strict regulations on plastic disposal, petition the government. But with every problem comes with a solution so this problem thus has its’ solution. Now a days new kind of plastics are being made which are biodegradable on being exposed to sunlight- UV radiation or water dampness.
But the main step towards reduction of plastic is by reducing its’ use. If every individual in this country starts keeping a check in his/her daily plastic use. Because the increasing plastic waste is very hazardous to our environment it affects various organism and also hampers the food chains. Ingestion of certain harmful plastic can cause serious diseases and also can promote mutation in a organism.
Hence , use of plastic must be reduced and also recycling of plastic must be done , damping of plastic waste must done carefully.Plastic came to us as a blessing so people do not let this blessing turn into a bane !
