Plastics are pervasive in daily life. They are found in car tires, clothing, food wrappers, disposable water bottles, paint and even some tea bags. Most people view plastics as offering convenience in our busy lives. For companies and individuals alike they are seen as cheap and disposable.
Given the range and versatility of uses and applications for plastics, it is not surprising that society has whole-heartedly embraced these materials.
According to University of Nevada Reno (UNR), despite producing more plastic each year, the trend for recycling plastics is decreasing, with just 5-6% of plastic recycled in 2021. And, it is estimated that 22% of plastic is actually “disposed of in uncontrolled dumpsites, burned in open pits or leaked into the environment”
Ocean CleanUp
Plastic waste according to UNR’s N Nevada Today, “is equal to 83.6 million tons of plastic released to the environment each year. That’s over 167 billion pounds each year and every year.”
Ocean Cleanup is a nonprofit founded by Dutch inventor Boyan Slat when he was 18. The organization has 145 scientists, researchers, engineers and computational modelers working to rid the world’s oceans of plastic.
There is peer review research, sited by theoceancleanup.com, that has determined, “widespread and lasting harm caused by plastic in the ocean. And, the impact on marine ecosystems that could last for hundreds of years.”
In Ocean Cleanup’s view, “leaving it [plastic] floating in the oceans and waterways means we are accepting this fact and leaving the marine environment to bear the consequences for generations. Ocean Cleanup goes on to say, “Reducing plastic emissions alone will do nothing to stop this damage”
industry
5 Gyre Foundation
University of Colorado Boulder explains that since single-use plastic is produced from fossil fuels, extracting and creating these plastics emits vast amounts of greenhouse gases. It is estimated that just the extraction of these fossil fuels and their transportation to plastic factories emits 1.5 to 12.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gases.
While plastic greenhouse emissions are contributing to the overall negative environmental impact of plastic.
Toothed marine animals like whales, seals and manatee are eating the debris. According to the National Library of Medicine, in a United Nation’s 2016 study, it was estimated that over 800 animal species had been contaminated by plastic ingestion or entanglement. Since that was 9 years ago we can only conclude that number is now significantly higher. And much more recent research is generating evidence supporting that microplastics and associated chemicals are indeed a threat to animals and therefore to humans.
Ocean Conservancy estimates humans take in roughly 121,000 microplastic particles a year by ingesting or inhaling. Particles have been detected in human organs. And many microplastic chemicals are associated by well document research with human health risks; like cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes —and bacteria and pathogens are found on the surfaces of microplastics and have the potential to spread disease in animals and humans.
Foundation
We cannot discount or overlook the physical and tangible negative impact of the actual produced plastics themselves.
We cannot dismiss that floating debris is damaging the ocean ecosystem and creating microplastics that are being ingested by marine life and humans or the environmental damage of greenhouse gasses created in the production and improper disposal of plastic.
Gyres are vortexes where multiple currents meet. The largest is the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. It has become known as “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch” – the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world. It is located in the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and California. It is estimated to be twice the size of Texas and 3 times the size of France.
What can we do?
- Support legislation to curb plastic production and waste
- Reduce single-use plastic use
- Recycle properly. I am skeptical about this one because PR engines for plastic producers and large companies dependent on plastic for packaging (e.g., soft drink companies) have long misinformed the public on benefits, effectiveness and success rates of recycling. According to the Ocean Society, At present,just 9% of plastic is recycled worldwide. Though higher than UNR estimates this number is still abysmal.
- Participate in or organize an ocean or river clean up
- Avoid products containing micro beads – face scrubs, toothpastes, body washes
- Spread the word- share with friends and family about the problem and actions you are taking. You may be part of organizations or meetups where you can make a presentation, handout factsheets or even host a viewing party sharing videos on the issue
- Reach outto learn more through organizations like Agalitia Marine Research and Education The Ocean Clean Up, Ocean Conservancy, Surfrider Foundation, The 5 Gyres Institute or one of many other organizations committed to ocean and waterways plastic clean up, research and community education
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