Perhaps one of the most pressing environmental issues in the US throughout the past year has been plastic production and pollution. The United States is one of the leading countries in plastic waste generation, creating about 287 pounds of plastic waste per person annually. This totals to 42 million metric tons of plastic waste.
Not only is the amount of plastic concerning, the production of this plastic is responsible for the release of 232 metric tons of greenhouse gasses every year. In fact, the production of plastics is set to outpace coal plants in the US by 2030.
Why is the Issue So Bad?
Simply put, the United States cannot keep up. Recycling infrastructure as it is cannot handle the growth in plastic production that this country is seeing. Each year, an estimated 1.13-2.24 million metric tons of waste are leaked into oceans and the environment. Most of these materials are made from fossil fuels and take hundreds of years to decompose. In the meantime, this plastic pollution can alter habitats and natural processes, consequently reducing ecosystems’ ability to adapt to the climate change these plastics contributed to in the first place. This circles back to have a direct effect on food production capabilities and social well-being. The physical, chemical, biological, and even economical effects are seriously concerning.
What is the Government Doing?
One of the actions taken that directly affects consumers is introducing restrictions on single-use plastic bags. Several states have opted to completely get rid of these plastic bags in retail stores. Consumers now have to buy or bring reusable bags instead.
Additionally, certain states (Maine, for example) have implemented Extended Producer Responsibility or EPR policies that place responsibility for the disposing of packaging materials and waste on the producers and manufacturers who made them. More states are aiming to implement these kinds of policies in the coming years.
What Can We, The Consumers, Do?
The first and most simple thing is to be aware of how much plastic you are buying and using. If you are given the option between one-use or reusable utensils, for instance, go with the reusable ones. Be mindful of separating your recyclables properly. At least 85 percent of municipal plastic waste is sent to landfills.Try to buy products with less plastic packaging. It is understandable that, for most people, it is not feasible to switch to a waste free lifestyle. However, we should try our best to be as resourceful and waste-less as possible.
This was a really informative post. I don’t think that as consumers we truly consider how much waste is produced and how much we contribute to it over our life span. Considering the amount of waste in pounds we produce annually per person really puts things in perspective. I think it’s important we take action, it’s really useful that you included what we can do to help and reduce our waste.
It’s so sad to think about the negative contributions we’ve made to the environment through plastic. I always wonder how effective recycling bins are. I don’t understand why we don’t make a bigger effort to emphasis the use of other alternatives. I think policies like Maine’s could really open people’s eyes.
This is a great post, and I researched a similar topic for my Ted Talk last semester. It’s frightening how little attention we pay to the literal mountains of trash we produce every day. And in many communities even those that try to recycle can’t because of the limited infrastructure. I believe that, at some point, everyone should google the Great Pacific Garbage patch or animals that starved to death because their stomachs were filled with plastic. Our impact on the environment is undeniable and ignoring it won’t make the issue disappear.