The Plastic Issue

Siddharth Swaminathan (United States of America)

Honorable Mention

The universe has been very kind in enriching earth with astoundingly precise conditions that allow life to thrive. Intuition suggests that humans have a moral responsibility to sustain the planet’s rare environment, but morality is not the only factor that should spark action; the continuity of mankind itself might as well rest on the shoulders of ordinary people. In fact, one of the largest sources of environmental damage, plastic waste, is something the ordinary person can inhibit with simple lifestyle changes. For example, simply stopping or limiting plastic use, and spreading awareness about the harmful effects of plastic waste can help end plastic waste once and for all.
Perhaps one of the most appalling aspects of plastic is the sheer amount of time it takes to degrade combined with the fact that a wide range of plastics are hazardous to the environment. To put things into perspective, even five hundred years may pass by before a single plastic bottle is completely decomposed and a disturbingly high thousand years for a lone polyethylene bag. The lingering plastic might dangerously entangle with wildlife and cleaning up plastic litter costs billions annually. Furthermore, the polymers in certain plastics leach into public soil and water systems which in turn directly poses a threat to humans as the containing toxins may lead to complications such as cancer and heart disease. There is no question that plastic products must be put to a sharp halt no matter the efficiency they provide; fortunately, there are tons of biodegradable alternatives for plastics. For example, simply refusing a plastic bag at a supermarket in exchange for a paper one or even using a cloth bag would save centuries of time in degradation. Also, using a reusable metal water bottle or even refilling a plastic water bottle (rather than a new one each time) would be a blessing in the fight to end plastic waste; even stopping the use of a plastic straw would be beneficial. There are certainly a multitude of options to choose from and any one of them will prove to be an effective method to help preserve nature’s gift.
However, the universal end of plastic does not merely happen overnight nor through individual efforts; rather this drastic change is a product of combined efforts of communities and governments alike. Therefore, informing local supermarkets, town councils, and even school boards can be vital in end plastic wastage. For example, many cities in the United States and the entire state of California have already proceeded to ban the use of plastic straws, something achievable only through an agreement between groups that the plastic issue is very much real and volatile. Supermarkets all over still primarily use plastic bags simply because it is cheap and effective, so speaking with store representatives and sending Emails to local officials can expedite the push to limit plastic usage. For instance, plastics bags were almost recently enforced by law to cost an extra five cents in New York City. Stories like this only occur because people actively seek businesses and inform them that the environment is at stake, which takes precedence over any small profits made through plastic usage. The perspective of environment over money is an important notion that must be conveyed to large audiences in order to reverse the harm that plastic imposes on the planet.
Ultimately, the plastic issue at hand is a matter of principle: the virtue of thinking about the dire consequences of humankind’s imprint on the world versus the prospect that the easiest way out, plastic usage, is the most beneficial method of operation. Whether ignorance or corporate greed is the cause of the earth’s self-inflicted demise, people all over the world must take a noble stand and do whatever possible to minimize personal and collective use of plastic. Otherwise, the near zero chance of opportunity that the universe has presented may fade away in the not so distant future.