You’ve seen all the photos of plastic pollution. Beaches littered with plastic in faraway countries. Birds on remote islands caught in plastic debris or the dead whale with a stomach filled with plastic. You didn’t mindlessly discard the plastic that caused these issues. So is it really your problem? The simple answer is yes. It is your problem and there are lots of small changes you can do to change the big picture.
The Big Plastic Picture
Plastic waste has impacted every pristine environment on this planet. From the north pole where microplastics have been found in abundance in Arctic sea ice and surrounding waters, to the south pole of Antarctica where microplastics are also evident in surface water.
Plastics have even found their way to the deepest place on earth. The discovery of a plastic bag in the Mariana trench was well publicised earlier this year. Though if you dig a little deeper (no pun intended) this was not the first, but the third single-use plastic bag discovered here.
Closer to home, a survey by the University of Tasmania discusses how the vast amount of single-use plastics on Australia’s remote Coco islands is an indication of a large amount of plastic debris circulating in the oceans. The study also estimated that Indian Ocean island beaches are littered with 238 tonnes of plastic, including 977, 000 shoes and 373,000 toothbrushes.
If you still need further proof of the impact on your doorstep, head down to the beach and consider the birdlife. WWF reports that over 80% of seabirds have plastic in their stomach, and an estimated one million seabirds are dying from plastic consumption each year. This is one of the main causes of death for seabirds along with entanglement (often plastic as well).
Next time you pick up your glass of water (or bottle that will further contribute to this problem), consider how much plastic you might be drinking. Various studies show we consume microplastics, in both groundwater and treated water sources.
Plastic Initiatives in Australia
Plastics can take hundreds of years, often more to break down in the environment. It is the responsibility of Governments, businesses and individuals to reduce the impact of plastics on this planet. But how is plastic pollution being addressed here?
In Australia, just 12% of plastic was recycled in 2016-17, with 87% sent to landfill and 1% sent to an energy from waste facility according to The National Waste Report 2018. Both the plastic generation and recycling rate remained relatively stable over a ten year period. However, with a growing population, the generation rate equates to a per capita decrease of only 16%.
All Australian States (except New South Wales – the most populated state) have committed to the ban of single-use plastic bags, and the two largest retailers have banned the supply of single-use plastic bags nationwide. The National Retail Association reported that this has resulted in an overall reduction of 80% in plastic bag use.
Photo by Catherine Sheila from Pexels
The Container Deposit Scheme provides incentives to increase recycling and ultimately reduce plastic to the environment and landfill. This legislation has reduced plastic pollution by as much as 40% according to a study of Australian and United States coastal regions.
A voluntary phase-out of microbeads has been introduced nationwide. The aim is for manufacturers and retailers to end production and supply of all products containing these tiny bits of plastic. There is still potential for legislation to be introduced to ensure production of microbeads cease.
How Can One Person Make a Difference to Plastic Pollution?
So what about you? As individuals, we still have a role and responsibility in reducing plastic generation and waste. Manufacturers will only continue to supply plastic products while there is consumer demand.
Start small by considering the item, packaging and ingredients before purchase. Consider if there is a more sustainable alternative. Avoid all single-use plastics, including items such as bags, coffee cups, takeaway containers and straws.
Think about items in your home that end up in waste when there is no recycling alternative. Find alternatives for everyday products such as toothbrushes (switch to bamboo instead), containers and even the small plastic scoops in laundry powder (you can support brands that don’t supply them). When in doubt, always remember to reduce, re-use, recycle, and you can begin to make a difference to the big picture.
There are some fantastic initiatives by small businesses that manufacture or source products and services that offer plastic-free alternatives. Do you know one? Let us all know about it.
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