Why does plastic use need to be Reduced

Why does plastic use need to be reduced?

By: Malyn Barnett

Fall 2024

Imagine the ocean between Hawaii and  California, do you picture clear water and healthy marine life? This isn’t the reality. In the Pacific ocean, between California and Japan lies the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, 79,000 tons of plastic and other waste. 

With this much trash in the ocean many ocean animals ingest it and get sick, or stuck in trash like disposable shopping bags. Plastic waste needs to be reduced before we hurt marine and human life even more. 

When the plastic has been in the ocean long enough it becomes biofueled and animals are more likely to eat it. According to an article published on Newsela, the definition of biofueled is  “A plastic that floats around for too long can become biofouled. That means a layer of slime, shellfish, and other ocean life has attached itself to the trash.” 

Marine animals aren’t the only ones bothered by plastic. As more plastic makes its way into marine food chains, it also makes its way into ours. According to an article published on Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, in 2022 over 200 species of fish that humans eat are known to ingest plastic. As the amount of plastic in the ocean increases so will the amount in our seafood. 

An article republished by Gale, part of Cengage Group, discussed how ingesting or inhaling microplastics from our food and environment could affect our health. “Research to date suggests that exposure to plastic-associated chemicals may interfere with hormones that regulate many processes in our bodies, cause developmental problems in children, or alter human metabolic processes in ways that promote obesity.”

An article written by a disabled justice advocate I came across while researching argues that the plastic reduction movement is ableist(discrimination or prejudice against individuals with disabilities). In some ways it is, nobody should have to use more painful or potentially unsafe medical equipment because it is made of a more sustainable material. But one of the main arguments was that the plastic straw ban meant that disabled people couldn’t drink on their own, but what was stopping them from using reusable metal straws?

On a wide scale, scientists are experimenting with devices like the Trash Wheel in Baltimore, Maryland and have suggested the United States government create a National Marine Debris Monitoring Program. These solutions all cost a lot of money. For those who want to help on a smaller level, finding more eco-friendly options is a solution most people can make in their everyday life. Using metal straws instead of plastic, for example.

If nobody steps up now, the plastic pollution problem will only continue to get worse. If you can help, you need to. Now. 

Sources:

OSLIS: 

Plastic Trash in the Ocean Is a Global Problem, and the US Is the Top Source – A New Report Urges Action  Savoca, Matthew, et al. "Plastic Trash in the Ocean Is a Global Problem, and the US Is the Top Source – A New Report Urges Action." Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2024. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/UBMRJM262715066/OVIC?u=eugene&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=1c9889bb. Accessed 20 Sep. 2024. Originally published as "Plastic trash in the ocean is a global problem, and the US is the top source – a new report urges action," The Conversation, 3 Dec. 2021.

The Crusade Against Single-Use Plastics Is Ableist

Doucette, Luticha Andre. "The Crusade Against Single-Use Plastics Is Ableist." Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2024. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/ZZQPTR593710482/OVIC?u=eugene&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=fc38e24d. Accessed 27 Sep. 2024. Originally published as "Toward Disability Justice," Yes! Magazine, 10 May 2021.

Newsela:

Great Pacific Garbage Patch an example of growing plastic pollution 

Tribune Content Agency, adapted by Newsela staff. "Great Pacific Garbage Patch an example of growing plastic pollution." Newsela, Newsela, 1 Apr. 2018, newsela.com/view/ck9nooipf05ox0iqj7fm7twax/?levelId=ck7ecwmw30u9514p7s6986zrd. Article.

Other:

8 facts about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Tsui, Jenny. "8 Facts About the Great Pacific Garbage Patch." kids.earth.org, kids.earth.org, 22 May 2022, kids.earth.org/life-in-the-water/great-pacific-garbage-patch/. Article.

7 facts about ocean plastic pollution for kids

Wu, Tin Lok . "7 Facts About Ocean Plastic Pollution for Kids." kids.earth.org, kids.earth.org, 8 June 2022, kids.earth.org/life-in-the-water/facts-about-ocean-plastic-pollution-for-kids/.

The Ocean Cleanup 

"The Great Pacific Garbage Patch ." The Ocean Cleanup, The Ocean Cleanup, theoceancleanup.com/great-pacific-garbage-patch/. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.