[vc_row][vc_column][charityhome_vc_section_title title=”Still Using Plastic?” sub_title=”Here’s 6 Solid Reasons Not To.” slogan=”The prophetic apocalypse will come riding on a wave of plastic unless we take action now!”][/charityhome_vc_section_title][vc_single_image image=”10880″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Dumping Single Use Plastic
The breakthrough invention of mankind; that which was cheap to manufacture, had extreme durability, strength and could be moulded into any shape we desired – Plastic! This miraculous invention which turned the course of the industrial age, what could go wrong? Indeed it was the very properties that made plastic fabulous, that also made it a problem. Plastic is everywhere. Our cups, straws, plates, bottles, toys, bags, chairs, tables, doors, machines… The list is endless. And that is the trouble, because plastic like we mentioned before, has a very long lifespan. In fact, all the plastic ever made, still exists. And, most of it will continue to exists for hundreds, thousands or even millions of years more before it completely decomposes. To add to the problem, while decomposing, plastic releases some deadly toxins. You see the problem now? Plastic is up to our necks, and if we don’t want to be choked by it, we must act now to reduce its usage. If you need more motivation to accept the seriousness of the issue, here are six good reasons to give up single use plastic:
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Plastic lasts forever.
Durability is one of the primary qualities that make plastic so unique. It does not decompose easily. Even a flimsy water bottle made of plastic can take a few hundred years to decompose. A million plastic bags are handed out, every minute! The world currently produces around 400 million tonnes of plastic and dumps an average of 10 million tonnes into the ocean every year. All that plastic, it’s all here to stay for a very very long time.
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Plastic waste is accumulating everywhere.
Less than 5% of the total plastic produced gets recycled. The rest either gets dumped in landfills, where it stays forever, or it gets dumped into the oceans. The result of the latter is now showing, with huge garbage islands forming in the ocean gyres. There five such garbage islands currently floating in our oceans. The one in the north Pacific is twice the size of Texas, while another in the south pacific, recently estimated to be bigger than Mexico. That’s some messed up achievements to add to plastic, and news like these just keeps on coming. Here’s a recent one – Millions of plastic pellets washed up on Swedish beaches.
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The environment is under serious threat.
Plastic, when it starts decomposing, due to different environmental factors, leeches out deadly toxins such as BPA. These toxins have been found to be carcinogenic, linked to genetic disorders etc. All the plastic that is heaped up in our landfills and oceans, slowly start contaminating the soil, groundwater and the marine environment with these toxins.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”10881″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]
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Plastic is endangering our wildlife.
Plastic has cost us much wildlife. Millions of seabirds and marine animals are killed every year due to either entanglement or ingestion of plastic. The bigger preys often eat the contaminated animals, and thus plastic travels up the food chain. For some, like the sea turtle, a plastic bag looks like jellyfish, which is food. From Elephants to Whales, big and small, plastic has killed them all!
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Plastic has made its way onto our plates.
If you think other animals dying is not much concern of yours, we got news for you. Plastic now outnumbers plankton in the sea. One in four fish has ingested plastic. The smaller fishes become food for the bigger fishes and other marine animals. Microscopic plastic has contaminated the waters itself. Most of the beer tested had traces of plastic fragments. Even the sea salt has been found to have tiny plastic particles. So the next time you order some seafood platter and chug on that beer, remember that plastic, has already infiltrated your diet! Read this for more details on how plastic has encroached upon our world – An era of plastic overkill. (How Single Use Plastic is killing you)
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Plastic is easy to avoid!
We’re not joking. There are plenty of alternatives out there. The problem, we believe, is that we have been pampered and spoilt by the cheap and readily available plastic items. Take for example the million plastic bags or even water bottles that are handed out every minute. On average, each of these plastic items is used only for 12 minutes, before it gets discarded. Think about it. Is it that difficult to carry a cloth bag the next time you go grocery shopping? Or how about bringing along your ‘own’ water bottle and filling it up for free, instead of wasting money to purchase water in cheap plastic? If you are smart enough to realize which is the better choice, here’s an article to help you make the correct lifestyle choice: How To Slow Down The Single Use Plastic Rampage.
Fortunately, just like Dylan said, the times they are a changing! Awareness regarding the harmful effects of plastic is spreading. Businesses have become conscious of the negative image that is associated with plastic. And believe it or not, it is almost always a small change by ordinary people that cascades into a significant movement. Just like how a petition started by school children got Councils across Scotland to ban single use plastic straws.
You don’t have to turn your world upside down to reduce the impact of plastic on the environment, but the ‘convenient’ single-use plastic items are often inexcusable or just plain laziness. And when one person acts like a careless consumer, it gives others the excuse to behave the same. Don’t be that person. #iBanPlastic
Have you already begun making smarter lifestyle choices to reduce your plastic consumption? Let us know through your comments. The world could use more inspiration. Help us spread awareness by sharing this article with your peers.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]