Plastic pollution isn’t new but it is still threatening the natural environment on which we depend, impacting oceans, communities, wildlife, and people at an unprecedented rate. Different kinds of disposable plastic products have been widely used in residents’ lives, especially with the development of new industries such as e-commerce, express delivery, and take-out, the consumption of plastic lunch boxes and plastic packaging has risen rapidly.
In 1950, the world produced more than 2 million tons of plastic per year. By 2015, this annual production swelled to 419 million tons and exacerbated plastic waste in the environment.
A report by science journal, Nature, determined that currently, roughly 11 million tons of plastic make their way into the oceans every year, harming wildlife habitats and the animals that live in them. . Meanwhile, these waste plastic also poses a threat to animal survival, some animal was killed because they swallowed abandoned waste plastic products on land or in water.
The research found that if no action is taken, the plastic crisis will grow to 29 million metric tons per year by 2040. The problem has only worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the necessary increase of single-use plastics for personal protective equipment (PPE) like face masks and shields, some governments and businesses have delayed or scrapped plastic bags and packaging bans.
Without proper regulation and control of plastic management, these plastic have been discarded randomly, resulting in great environmental risk and huge White Pollution
The first step each one of us can take is to rethink our use of plastic by either not using it or sustainably rethinking plastic-based items. Although there are many disadvantages of plastic waste, plastics can be converted into new products through recycling and reuse, which turns waste into useful resources. This is the most ideal disposal method for waste plastics.
Each year, close to 20 billion plastic bottles are tossed in the trash. Carry a reusable bottle in your bag instead of buying a new plastic bottle.
