Omar Khalid
Plastic pollution is one of the greatest threats to ocean health worldwide. With plastic production skyrocketing, low recycling rates, and poor waste management, between 4 and 12 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, posing a serious danger to marine life and human health. To address this crisis, solutions range from individual behaviour changes to innovative technologies and legislation. Individuals can reduce plastic usage, reuse plastic items, and recycle plastic waste. Additionally, awareness about plastic pollution and supporting relevant legislation are crucial. Meanwhile, engineers are exploring alternative materials like bioplastics made from seaweed and using fungi to degrade plastics. Governments are also taking action, with countries like Canada, India, and Peru implementing measures to reduce single-use plastics and improve recycling rates.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reduce plastic usage | Avoid single-use plastics, such as grocery bags, straws, plastic wrap, disposable cutlery, coffee cup lids, and plastic bottles |
| Reuse plastic items | Opt for reusable bags, silverware, and bottles instead of disposable ones |
| Recycle plastic waste | Collect and reprocess plastic waste into new products; focus on commonly recycled plastics with #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) markings |
| Improve waste management | Develop sustainable wastewater infrastructure to prevent plastic and other pollutants from entering oceans and improve the health of fisheries and coral reefs |
| Ban single-use plastics | Implement legal restrictions on specific single-use plastic items, such as plastic bags, straws, cutlery, plates, and polystyrene containers |
| Use alternative materials | Explore bioplastics made from renewable biomass, like vegetable fats and oils, cassava starch, woodchips, food waste, or seaweed |
| Innovation in waste collection | Develop technologies like the ocean cleanup system 'System 001' to collect plastic waste from oceans |
| Public awareness and education | Spread knowledge about plastic pollution, its impact, and possible solutions through documentaries, articles, and conversations |
| Legislation and producer responsibility | Advocate for laws that reduce plastic production and hold plastic producers accountable for the waste generated by their products |
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What You'll Learn
Reduce plastic usage, especially single-use plastics
Plastic pollution is one of the greatest threats to ocean health worldwide. The mass of plastic detritus present in the oceans is so enormous that it is called the "7th continent". At this rate, there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050. The best way to address plastic pollution is to change our mindsets and habits with this controversial but nonetheless very useful material.
Reduce
To efficiently reduce plastic pollution, there is a need to reduce our usage of plastic. This means changing our everyday behaviours and not using plastic when there is a better alternative. Only use plastic when it is absolutely necessary. Half of all plastic produced is for throwaway items that are used once and then thrown away, such as grocery bags, plastic wrap, disposable cutlery, straws, and coffee cup lids. Take note of how often you rely on single-use plastics and replace them with reusable versions.
Reuse
Plastic may cause pollution when poorly managed, but it has advantages, such as being resistant. Many plastic items can be reused or used for different purposes. Before throwing plastic items away, consider how they can be reused.
Recycle
Plastic recycling consists of collecting plastic waste and reprocessing it into new products to reduce the amount of plastic in the waste stream. While we can't recycle our way out of the plastics crisis, recycling is still important to reduce the footprint of our waste stream.
Legislation
While it is important to change individual behaviours, such changes alone are insufficient to stop ocean plastic pollution. We also need legislation that reduces plastic production, improves waste management, and makes plastic producers responsible for the waste they generate.
Alternative materials
Engineers and designers are searching for other materials that could be used for packaging foodstuffs. Bioplastics are made from renewable biomass, usually vegetable fats and oils, cassava starch, woodchips, or food waste. Seaweed is also a solution, being used by an Indonesian start-up called Evoware to create sandwich and burger wraps, sachets for flavouring and coffee, and soap packaging.
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Reuse plastic items where possible
Plastic pollution is one of the greatest threats to ocean health worldwide. With skyrocketing plastic production, low recycling rates, and poor waste management, between 4 and 12 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, posing a serious danger to marine life.
One way to tackle this issue is to reduce plastic consumption by opting for reusable alternatives. Half of all plastic produced is for throwaway items used once and then discarded, such as grocery bags, plastic wrap, disposable cutlery, straws, and coffee cup lids. By choosing reusable options, individuals can significantly reduce their plastic waste. For example, carrying a reusable bottle instead of using disposable water bottles can reduce plastic pollution and save money. Similarly, bringing your own tote bags for shopping, using reusable containers for food storage, and opting for washable or paper straws instead of plastic ones can make a substantial difference.
In addition to individual efforts, legislation plays a crucial role in reducing plastic pollution. Governments and organizations are taking steps to address this issue. For instance, the 2021 Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act in the United States aims to tackle the plastic pollution crisis, and there are state-level initiatives to introduce extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation, holding plastic producers accountable for their products' end-of-life disposal. Countries like Canada, India, and Peru are also taking measures to reduce single-use plastic waste, with Canada aiming to improve recycling rates and India planning to eliminate all single-use plastic by 2022.
While individual actions are important, they must be coupled with systemic changes to combat plastic pollution effectively. This includes improving waste management systems, developing sustainable wastewater infrastructure, and establishing partnerships between public and private sectors to implement effective solutions. By combining individual habits with legislative and systemic efforts, we can make significant progress in reducing plastic pollution and protecting our oceans and marine life.
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Improve recycling rates and waste management
Improving recycling rates and waste management is critical to tackling the plastic crisis. Here are some ways to achieve this:
Firstly, it is essential to reduce plastic usage and promote recycling. This involves encouraging the use of reusable alternatives to single-use plastics, such as grocery bags, plastic wrap, disposable cutlery, straws, and coffee cup lids. Carrying a reusable water bottle, for example, reduces plastic waste and may also be a healthier choice. Refusing plastic cutlery and takeout containers when ordering food can also help. Additionally, individuals can opt for products without plastic microbeads, often found in facial scrubs, toothpaste, and body washes, as these slip through water treatment plants and harm marine life.
Secondly, governments and industries must improve waste collection and management systems. This includes establishing safe food and water systems, such as drinking water treatment facilities, to reduce the use of single-use plastic bottles. For example, in Muncar, Indonesia, a public-private partnership successfully implemented a waste management system to optimise waste collection and processing, change behaviours, and build capacity.
Thirdly, recycling infrastructure and processes must be enhanced. This involves investing in technology and innovations that improve recycling rates and develop new recycling methods, such as using fungus to degrade plastics. Additionally, recycling education is vital, as individuals should understand what can and cannot be recycled, and how to prepare their waste for recycling.
Finally, legislation plays a crucial role in improving recycling rates and waste management. Governments should introduce laws and standards that hold plastic producers and distributors accountable for their products' entire life cycles. This can include bans on specific single-use plastic items, such as plastic bags, straws, and polystyrene containers, with potential fines for non-compliance.
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Ban plastic microbeads in cosmetics
Plastic pollution is one of the greatest threats to ocean health worldwide. With skyrocketing plastic production, low recycling rates, and poor waste management, between 4 and 12 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year. This amount is projected to triple in the next 20 years.
Plastic microbeads, tiny particles of plastic found in many health and beauty products, are a growing source of ocean plastic pollution. They are found in some face scrubs, toothpastes, and body washes, and they readily enter our oceans and waterways through our sewer systems, affecting hundreds of marine species.
To address this issue, the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 was passed in the United States, prohibiting the manufacturing, packaging, and distribution of rinse-off cosmetic products containing plastic microbeads. This law was enacted to reduce water pollution caused by these products, as the microbeads may not be effectively filtered out by treatment systems and can end up in our lakes and oceans, where they are ingested by marine life. Several other countries, including Italy, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand, have followed suit with their own bans.
The Beat the Microbead campaign has also played a significant role in raising awareness and advocating for change. Since the campaign's inception, 19 countries have taken steps to ban microbeads.
While these efforts are commendable, it is important to recognize that legislation alone may not be sufficient to solve the problem. Individual actions, such as avoiding products containing microbeads and supporting organizations dedicated to reducing plastic pollution, are also crucial. Additionally, it is essential to stay informed and educate others about plastic pollution and its impact on the environment.
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Develop biodegradable alternatives, e.g. bioplastics
Plastic pollution is one of the greatest threats to ocean health worldwide. With skyrocketing plastic production, low recycling rates, and poor waste management, between 4 and 12 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year. This amount is projected to triple in the next 20 years.
One solution to this crisis is to develop biodegradable alternatives to traditional plastics, such as bioplastics. Bioplastics are made from renewable biomass, usually vegetable fats and oils, cassava starch, woodchips, or food waste. Seaweed is another alternative used by an Indonesian start-up called Evoware, which creates sandwich and burger wraps, sachets, and packaging from seaweed. Seaweed is a sustainable and nutritious resource that requires no land, freshwater, or fertilizer to grow.
Bioplastics have been used in various sectors, including the food-processing industry, medicine, agriculture, and the automobile industry. PHA-based bioplastics, in particular, exhibit biodegradable behavior in all anaerobic and aerobic environments and can be used to make fully compostable, soil- and marine-biodegradable goods. They can degrade into water and carbon dioxide in 20 to 45 days if the right conditions are met.
However, bioplastics also have some disadvantages, such as high costs, brittleness, and hydrophilic nature. Additionally, the creation of bioplastics can still consume significant energy and resources, and certain bioplastics require access to industrial composting facilities for proper decomposition.
To address these challenges, researchers are exploring various tactics to improve the qualities of bioplastics. For example, the development of gas and water barrier properties can enhance their performance. Effective waste management is also crucial to maximizing the environmental benefits of bioplastics.
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