According to a small study conducted, it was found that 96% of plastic fragments found in the the Great Shearwaters, a seabird species, were actually recyclable (WBUR, 2020). Such observations show that we, as humans, often do are not even trying our best. There are simple solutions that we can follow such as recycling or reducing use of plastics. Yet, we do not.
Among global populations, it seems that US may rank third in being the biggest contributor to plastic pollution (The Guardian, 2020). This probably due to their relatively high income levels and consumption habits, as well as the disposal of waste. However, that does not mean we point our fingers to them to solve the problem. All countries do contribute to plastic pollution in one way or another. Our cultural and consumer habits are a key reason for contributing to plastic pollution. Often using convenience as a justification, we tend to use single-use plastics even when we can avoid them with conscious effort.
Another interesting factor influencing human behaviour to contribute to use of single-use plastics, which leads to higher plastic pollution is air pollution. In heavily air polluted areas like Beijing, people opt for food delivery systems to obtain the meals when they are at work or home to avoid exposure to poor air quality in public (The Science Times, 2020). Such food delivery use single use plastics as containers for meals.
However, some circumstances are more difficult to manage such as COVID- 19. The pandemic has contributed to a significant increase in plastic pollution. It can be from the millions of single-use face masks and personal protection equipment being discarded just in the UK healthcare context (World Economic Forum, 2020). Or, from single use plastic containers due to increase in buying food takeaways due to lockdown or quarantine. The pandemic has worsened the plastic pollution problem that we face. But it does seem impossible to not use masks right?! I do agree we require it for our safety, BUT we are able to avoid dumping them in oceans or in other places.
Single-use face masks and surgical gloves found in the ocean (World Economic Forum, 2020)
Well, there are more factors to name such as improper or illegal plastic waste disposal, the above mentioned factors are some of our current actions and habits that contribute significantly to plastic pollution. As we can see, contribution to plastic pollution occurs at different scales – individual, regional, national, private companies. There are many stakeholders involved in this global environmental crisis. But the question is, is Everyone doing their best to resolve this issue ? (it’s a no by the way)
References
The Guardian (2020) Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/30/us-and-uk-citizens-are-worlds-biggest-sources-of-plastic-waste-study
WBUR (2020) Available at: https://www.wbur.org/earthwhile/2020/10/21/great-shearwaters-study-microplastics-recycling
The Science Times (2020) Available at: https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/27790/20201020/air-pollution-causes-people-choose-food-delivery-services-resulting-plastic.htm
World Economic Forum (2020) Available at: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/06/ppe-masks-gloves-coronavirus-ocean-pollution/
Look out for the next posts for responses that work towards resolving the plastic pollution problem we face 🙂Â