Hi guys!! Second last post for my plastic pollution series 🙂 The last post was so negative about all the = things we’re doing that contributes to plastic pollution. We can’t end on a sour note now can we? Let’s be more optimistic and look at what we can do and what is already being done
1. IndividualÂ
There are many things we can do individually to do our part. It starts from changing our habits – one at a time. Anyone in Singapore would know of our famous 3Rs.
Reuse, Recycle and Reduce are key starting points for changing our habits. Look at the video below by NEA (n.d.) to know how we can use the 3Rs. Notably, Singapore even thinks of the slightest factors that might deter you from practicing them such as not knowing how to do it right and locations to recycle. NEA has then implemented the myENV app to assist individuals and encourage them to practice the 3Rs.
However, while knowing what the 3Rs are is important. What is more important, is to DO IT RIGHT or our efforts will be wasted.
Interestingly, Earth Day organization has additional Rs to add on to the ones we know of in Singapore. Refuse, Remove and Rally are the additional Rs that Earth Day (2018) proposes that individuals can follow. Refusing includes simply saying NO to plastics such as straws, cutleries plastic bags when offered. Remove comprises of physically removing plastics that we come across in places we visit such as parks or beaches. I believe that this habit might be harder for most to develop as we might object to cleaning up litter that we were not responsible for. Lastly, rallying involves individuals protesting for bigger change such as policies on bans on single-use plastics.
Personally, I am guilty for not following the 3Rs fully. I admit that I do not use every opportunity to reduce plastic usage. But the alarming thought about the state of the earth if everyone were not to care scares me and often motivates me to do my best. If everyone makes small gradual changes, I believe that the impact would be significant.
2. National
As of now, many countries have taken some form of responsibility regarding plastic pollution. Usually, such actions take the form of policies. The National Geographic, as of 2019, has complied a list of developments across countries. Such developments include Canada aiming to ban single-use plastics by 2021, ban on Styrofoam containers by San Diego, bans on plastic straws, restrictions, etc (National Geographic, 2019). There seems to be progress towards restrictions and bans on particular plastic products. While such actions are made with good intention, the implementation and success in sustaining such policies is crucial. Also, this probably is not sufficient even though it is an effective starting point. Moreover, there seems to be overwhelming focus on restricting or banning multiple forms of single-use plastics. Perhaps, more actions need to be taken to regulate corporations and their practices as well.
3. Non-profit organizations
Non-profit organizations engage in many activities and initiatives to play their part. Let’s look at Greenpeace for instance. Greenpeace believes that corporations need to accept responsibility and be accountable for the part they play in plastic pollution through their actvities – waste disposals, product design, etc (Greenpeace, n.d.). It focuses on garnering support from other organizations and the public to engage in environmental activism to protest for change. If such organizations are successful in convincing corporations to change their environmentally unfriendly practices such as plastic packaging, it would reduce throw-away culture. Overall, organizations like Greenpeace strive for fundamental changes and also urges individuals to take actions on their own, whether it is changing their own habits or signing petitions.
Perhaps if existing organizations they should coordinate and collaborate to be more effective and make a bigger impact and reach out to more people
Now that we’ve covered responses to reduce plastic pollution, how successful would such responses? It would be good to significantly reduce plastic waste that contributes to plastic pollution. But what about the plastic that has already integrated into our environment. Is it even possible to remove microplastics from the ocean which is a HUGE space where plastics (both macro and micro) has accumulated at different depths in varying amounts? Even though they are responses that aim to mitigate plastic pollution and its effects, what extent of the issue is even irreversible? There are many unanswered questions that we do not have answers to. Yet, it is still important to do our best to alleviate the issue.
References
Earth Day (2018) Available at: https://www.earthday.org/what-you-can-do-to-end-plastic-pollution/
Greenpeace (n.d) Available at: https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/oceans/preventing-plastic-pollution/
National Geographic (2019) Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/07/ocean-plastic-pollution-solutions/
NEA (n.d.) Available at: https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/waste-management/3r-programmes-and-resources/waste-minimisation-and-recycling
Look out for the next post about my concluding thoughts on plastic pollution ..Â