New studies detail the consequences of our overuse of plastic, but there are fairly simple ways to reduce personal plastic waste. People need to be conscious of their purchases and reduce overall consumption of plastic, such as shopping bags or bottled beverages. It is recommended to bring one’s own bag made of cotton or other reusable materials when shopping. Simultaneously, it is advisable to stop using disposable beverage cups because most paper or plastic cups are not reusable or biodegradable. In an article entitled “The Effects of Plastic Pollution on Aquatic Life,” published in 2017, medical researcher Banerjee Byapti (1) estimates that 280 million tons of produced plastic end up in landfills and oceans yearly. This means the issue is negatively affecting the global environment and could harm marine habitats such as turtles. This essay will focus on the effect of plastic on aquatic species and recommendations for waste reduction via the improvement of personal habits.
Plastic waste is harmful to the environment and affects species of various habitats. Plastic is accumulated in our environment due to improper disposal or shipping spills, and each year, the scope of pollution is increasing. Animals suffer from the presence of plastic in their ecosystem due to injuries or attempts at ingestion. For instance, sea turtles often misjudge plastic bags as jellyfish, which is a primary food source for these animals, and approximately 52% of all sea turtles have eaten plastic (Wilcox, 1). The danger of such statistics lies in the fact that for such animals, there is a 22% chance of death from the ingestion of a single plastic piece (Wilcox, 4). Perhaps, 10% of the entire sea turtle population might be in danger of extinction. However, they are not the only ones, as over 1200 aquatic species are influenced by plastic debris (Bhagwat, 1). Therefore, drastic changes need to be brought to light to reduce plastic presence globally.
The start of major changes should be done from the social perception of plastic waste. According to one theory, consumers purchase more plastic because they believe it can be recycled (Guillot). Recycling has gained popularity over the past few years, but there are two sides to the story: the plastic manufacturers and the consumers who purchase plastic. On the one hand, the sector assures a consistent supply of new materials by encouraging recycling and aiding in the development of infrastructure for plastic recycling (Guillot). On the other hand, if consumers can convince themselves that their waste will be recycled, it may act as a justification for the purchase of packaged and disposable plastic goods (Guillot). People become willing to purchase plastic because it can be recycled as more people become aware of recycling. However, this attitude is dangerous and may promote harmful social practices that negatively impact the environment.
The awareness of personal plastic consumption needs to be increased for the reduction of domestic usage. People may start participating in the improvement of the environment by reducing their plastic imprint. For instance, one may switch to reusable products in order to cut down on single-use plastic products. This attitude enforces the purchase of reusable shopping bags, bottles, straws, and coffee cups. At the same time, personal avoidance of excessive food packaging, disposable plastic cutlery, and shopping bags is encouraged. Other tips may involve the prioritization of milk delivery systems and refill stations for detergents. These tips will help people to reduce the circulation of plastic in their lives.
In conclusion, the best method to protect the environment is to minimize the accumulation of plastic waste by recycling, composting, and careful consumption. However, people should not be encouraged to purchase such products due to the possibility of recycling as it will not resolve the ongoing problem. Plastic harms animals globally and often leads to their deaths; hence, its presence must be strictly controlled. It is possible to reduce the amount of waste we produce globally by changing personal habits into a plastic-free lifestyle and, in addition, altering our thinking to recognize that purchasing less plastic overall will result in a general decline in plastic manufacturing.
Works Cited
Banerjee, Byapti. “The Effect of Plastic Pollution on Aquatic Life.”Malaysian Journal of Medical Research (MJMR) 1.3 (2017): 43-45.
Bhagwat, Geetika, et al. “Fingerprinting plastic-associated inorganic and organic matter on plastic aged in the marine environment for a decade.”Environmental Science & Technology 55.11 (2021): 7407-7417.
Guillot, Louise. “How Recycling Is Killing the Planet.”Politico, 2020.
Wilcox, Chris, et al. “A quantitative analysis linking sea turtle mortality and plastic debris ingestion.”Scientific reports 8.1 (2018): 1-11.