Problem with plastics

Our plastic addiction is having a devastating impact on our oceans, our wildlife, and our health. Single-use plastics are goods that are made primarily from fossil fuel–based chemicals (petrochemicals) and are meant to be disposed of right after use—often, in mere minutes. Single-use plastics are most used for packaging and service ware, such as bottles, wrappers, straws, and bags.

The plastic crisis is not just about what ends up in the ocean; it is about whether we can achieve a sustainable existence on this planet. Plastics industry is fighting back, arguing that plastics are indispensable, and that the real problem is littering consumers and poor waste-management systems. The flood of plastic into our natural systems is linked directly to the other forces that are destroying our environment, decimating biodiversity, fuelling climate change, and depleting natural resources. Not only is plastic production a major source of greenhouse-gas emissions; it also releases a wide range of other chemicals into the environment, many of which end up in our lungs and stomachs. In Asia, entire cities are moving toward zero-waste solutions through decentralized community-led and centred initiatives, bans on single-use plastics, and lobbying against waste incineration.

According to a 2017 study, more than half of non-fibre plastic, which excludes synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon, comes from plastic packaging alone, much of which is for single-use items. We produce 300 million tons of plastic each year worldwide, half of which is for single-use items. That’s nearly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population. Recycling more plastic, more frequently, reduces its footprint. Polyethylene terephthalate, one of the most recycled plastics and the material that makes up most water and soda bottles, can be turned into everything from polyester fabric to automotive parts. Single-use plastics in particular—especially small items like straws, bags, and cutlery—are traditionally hard to recycle because they fall into the crevices of recycling machinery and therefore are often not accepted by recycling centres.

Over time, sun and heat slowly turn plastics into smaller and smaller pieces until they eventually become what are known as micro plastics. They end up in the water, eaten by wildlife, and inside our bodies. For wildlife, micro plastics can be particularly dangerous; when eaten they can easily accumulate inside an animal’s body and cause health issues, like punctured organs or fatal intestinal blockages. Many of the chemicals in plastics are known endocrine disruptors, and research has suggested that human exposure could cause health impacts including hormonal imbalances, reproductive problems like infertility, and even cancer. Our waterway plastic pollution is particularly concentrated: Just ten rivers carry 93 percent of the world’s total amount of plastic that enters the oceans via rivers each year.

Recent studies found plastic in the guts of 90 percent of the seabirds tested and 100 percent of the turtles and whales. Scientists estimate that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by weight in 2050. The process of drilling for plastic’s source materials, oil and gas, leads to methane leaking and flaring and is often combined with clearing forests and wetlands that otherwise would have sequestered carbon. Plastic pollution—whether in our oceans, piling up on our coastlines, or contributing to our climate crisis—impacts vulnerable communities first. A wave of single-use plastic bans is sweeping the country and the globe—most often on plastic bags, straws, stirrers, and takeout clamshells. (Some places are going so far as to ban single-use plastics entirely; most notably, India intends to go this route by 2022. Companies are forced to innovate, rethinking their designs and sourcing sustainable materials. Coca-Cola has said that it alone produces three million tons of plastic packaging each year, equivalent to a terrifying 200,000 plastic bottles per minute.

HOW ARE WE FIGHTING IT?

Inner-city councils leading a push to introduce fortnightly waste collection to divert it from landfill are facing fierce opposition, with one council back-flipping and reinstating weekly pick-ups. Hobsons Bay Council, in the city’s west, was the first in the state to introduce a four-bin system – one each for glass, food, recycling, and landfill. Some residents of Yarra City Council, in Melbourne’s inner-north, are outraged at fewer recycling pick-ups and are canning fortnightly garbage collection as part of a four-bin system trial in Abbotsford. Many residents had been pleased with fortnightly garbage collection and those that weren’t just needed time to adjust. With information on cost-saving, they supported the program. The council found a return to weekly garbage collection would cost approximately $40 per household a year. However, with food waste being reverted to fortnightly at the same time, that was reduced to $14. There are 72 other councils with fortnightly recycling across Victoria. Hundreds of millions of people around the world will attempt to forgo plastic for a month during a Plastic Free July as well.

COMPOSTE IS THE SOLUTION

Sepura Home is an innovative product that allows for sustainable removal of food scraps. Despite the growing accessibility of composting, 50 million tons of compostable waste ends up in American landfills at the end of each year. Food waste has a substantial carbon footprint, accounting for approximately 10% of global greenhouse-gas emissions. Canada’s Anvy Technologies created an eco-friendly composting system called the Sepura Home. Traditional garbage disposals send food waste straight to the sewer, Sepura Home redirects it to a clean, simply designed compost bin. A separator device within the product uses a patented electromechanical auger to send food straight to the collection bin without altering the sink’s plumbing. Easy to install and features an adjustable body that can fit securely under 95% of sinks. A carbon filter cover, gasketed sliding door, and air vents keep the odours of food scraps from leaving the bin and stinking up the kitchen.