SINGLE-USE PLASTIC HARMS THE ENVIRONMENT

By Amy Bradley - June 27, 2021

Single-Use Plastic Harms the Environment

Marine Debris - Photo Credit: National Park Service

Plastic bags, straws, toothbrushes, food wrappers, take-out containers are single-use plastic items that end-up getting thrown out. All plastics are made of non-renewable resources that do not decompose making them harmful to the environment. Plastic items also pollute the ocean and cause harm to wildlife.

Plastic materials are made from either crude oil or natural gas both are non-renewable resources. Because plastic items do not decompose in nature, they pile up an pollute. Did you know there are over 8 million metric tons of plastic in the ocean? And did you know that each year over 27 million tons of plastic is dumped in the landfills?

Plastic pollution can harm wildlife directly and by destroying their habitat. Mistaking it for food, wildlife can ingest plastic debris. In the oceans, plastic pollution can entangle and kill marine life. Plastic pollution also damages the habitat of river and ocean dwelling wildlife. Depleted oxygen levels, and reduced light penetration, and modified habitat structures are ways in which plastic pollution affects wildlife habitat.

What can you do?

The best way to help reduce the plastic pollution is to avoid using single-use plastic items, such as plastic bags, straws, food wrappers, and plastic toothbrushes. Instead use durable, reusable, and eco-friendly products. Another step you can take to help reduce plastic pollution is to participate in a coastal cleanup. You can also help your community reduce the amount of plastic pollution that enters the waterway by writing your local officials and request the city builds “Green Infrastructure”, which reduce the amount of stormwater that enters the waterways.

A note about photodegradable plastics

There are plastics that can break down when exposed to light called “photodegradable plastics”. The problem is photodegradable plastics do not degrade completely instead turn into microplastics. These small pieces of plastic can be ingested by fish and other marine life.