Plastic pollution is more than just the ugly presence on the byways, parks, and seas; it is a pervasive threat to the environment, our health, and our ecosystems. The graver the situation becomes, the more pressing the issue of resolving it becomes. As the scientific evidence reveals, the consequences for wildlife, the environment, and human life might end in catastrophe (Iroegbu et al., et al. pp. 19343-19355). Therefore, a combination of actions at the social levels, from individuals to governments, organizations, and corporations, should be taken to tackle this complex challenge.
At the problem’s center lies the shocking level of plastic waste produced worldwide each year. According to the UN Department of the Environment Programme (UNEP 300), millions of tons of plastic are produced yearly, mainly in the oceans, rivers, and landfills. The toughness of plastics ensures that they persist in the environment for years, and these tiny particles break down into microplastics and spread even to the most remote ecosystems. Scientific studies have exposed how difficult it is for purebreds in the water due to plastic pollution. Like many other animals from the sea, they misplace plastic waste for food, causing too many problems such as swallowing and being trapped in the nets, which may lead to choking in addition to dying (Silva et al., et al. p. 131201). Moreover, the biomagnification of toxic chemicals in plastics harms marine ecosystems and the seafood chain, endangering human wellbeing and well-being.
The reality has practically spread that plastic pollution goes beyond the traditional identification of being associated with marine environments and instead puts risk resources such as water bodies, salt lakes, and even the air we breathe. New research has identified the ubiquity of microplastics in food commodities and additions. Consequently, health consequences are evoked on human beings and wildlife. Microplastics pose two main problems- they intervene physically and transport harmful pathogens and pollutants, thus increasing health risks (Iroegbu et al., et al. pp. 19343-19355). This seriously detrimental situation highlights how imperative it is for the government and concerned parties, such as manufacturers and suppliers, to be involved in all-encompassing efforts to reduce the preventable destruction caused by plastic pollution.
Dealing with the plastic waste challenge includes a two-pronged strategy addressing waste reduction and management issues. Recycling efforts must be regularly promoted, mass consumers must be educated regarding the shift from single-use plastics towards sustainable alternatives, and extended producer responsibility schemes should be mandatory. We can opt out of the expenses embedded in cleaning wastes caused by plastics that inevitably increase government budgets. Public health and habitat sustainability will also be maintained. What is more, facilitating cooperation among government, industries, and community entities is critical to ensure the effectualness of these measures (Silva et al., et al. p. 131201). By supporting each other and embracing intelligent options, we, as a community, can exhaustively design an environmental outlook promoting a high quality of life.
Exercising legislative measures is a cog in the wheel, causing a broad chain that aims to tackle this plastic pollution. The government is the critical player in establishing the all-embracing legislature containing each phase of the plastic cycle, from the production stage down to the disposal. Here, we call for regulations to be set up that will deny the emergence of plastics for one use, including one-use plastic bags and straws, which are the major contributors to the elimination of the ecosystems—besides that, setting up a determined quota for recycling aids in expanding green technology, particularly in preventing dealing with landfills or oceans. The government can urge the usage of eco-friendly packaging by giving tax reliefs or subsidies to companies that use biodegradable or recyclable packaging materials (Rivas et al. 157555). Plastic has crossed the border and is now a global problem. Therefore, international cooperation becomes necessary in dealing with pollution, as stated before. Aligning government rules among the countries is essential to cross-shifting and bringing all countries together in their battles against plastic pollution worldwide.
Along with the legal processes, raising public awareness and setting up information campaigns is essential for encouraging a fair attitude towards protecting the environment and consuming goods and services. Although providing people with information on how plastic pollution is hazardous for ecosystems and human wellbeing is necessary, the ultimate goal is to lead to the reduction of plastic use by consumers themselves. Through education, the residents will be able to come together as communities that would adopt practices that encourage reusable, recyclable, and more sustainable plastic alternatives. Eco-friendly product consumption will be driven by instilling a sense of environmental stewardship in people and encouraging collective participation. As more people demand, businesses will realize the importance of sustainability and embed it in their operations. Conclusively, both the legislature’s assurances and public educational endeavors can make society less plastic-polluted and give space for more environmentally friendly ecosystems.
Finally, the plastic crisis brings forward the need for an immediate and collective response from all segments of society. The combination of scientific evidence to inform the policy, the mobilization of the public through advocacy and education, and holding the polluters accountable is the trajectory toward a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable atmosphere for future generations.
Iroegbu, Austine Ofondu Chinomso, et al. “Plastic pollution: a perspective on matters arising: challenges and opportunities.” ACS omega 6.30 (2021): 19343-19355.
Rivas, Marga L., et al. “The plastic pandemic: COVID-19 has accelerated plastic pollution, but there is a cure.” Science of The Total Environment 847 2022: 157555.
Silva, Ana L. Patrício, et al. “An urgent call to think globally and act locally on landfill disposable plastics under and after COVID-19 pandemic: Pollution prevention and technological (Bio) remediation solutions.” Chemical Engineering Journal 426 2021: 131201.