James Muir

Introduction

Everyone knows that we need to reduce and recycle plastic in order to help the environment and have a cleaner place to live. We need to find ways to stop this environmental disaster by following some of these simple steps. To reduce plastic in our everyday lives, to look at ways to not put microplastics in our waterways and educate people.

Point

We are using too much plastic in our everyday lives in Australia and around the World and especially right here at our school.

Evidence 

Did you know that the 2023 Australian Government report on climate change shows that ninety percent of plastic we use is single-use plastics like straws, cups,and plastic  bags? Which are used once and thrown away. Why do we need to do this?We  can bring our own cups to use instead of plastic cups,we could use paper straws or no straws at all .We can bring our own bags that fold up  and can be put in a handbag or pocket.

Analysis - what does this evidence tell us - why did you use this evidence - are we doing this at our school too? What could we do instead? Remember to appeal to emotions - this is terrible and we need to do something!

Link

We are using too much plastic but we can do something about it! 

Point #2

What effects are plastic having on humans and all life around Australia but over

 the past year 

Evidence

Scientists have made a recent discovery that the everyday person consumes one third of microplastics. Micro plastics are tiny shards of plastic measuring up to 5 mm in length.They come from everything from tyres to beauty products, which contain microbeads, tiny particles used as exfoliants. Another key source is synthetic fabrics. Every time clothing is washed, the pieces shed tiny plastic fibers called microfibres -a form of microplastic is in everything you eat or drink and is also found bottled water

Analysis

These micro plastics are found in certain foods that we humans and even animals consume which threatens their health. Humans can ingest micro plastics by drinking water out of plastic bottles that contain the dangerous BPA.They break into small plastics which are ingested and can cause cancers and reproductive issues in males and can enter animals which can kill them.

Link

This is why we need to make sure that plastic and plastic bottles are safe for us and the environment.

Plastic which ends up in our oceans, forming the great pacific garbage patch.

Our Australian National Waste Policy Action Plan 2019 shockingly stated that we generated 2.7 tonnes of waste per person in 2016-17

While the amount of waste we’re producing per person has been reducing over the past decade, waste is increasing overall. Reducing the amount of plastic we generate by a further 10% by 2030 will mean a reduction of about 300 kilograms per person

 How can we produce less plastic, but did you know that all it takes is to avoid using unnecessary and single use plastics. By doing this not only are we helping the environment but we are also helping to support businesses in reducing the amount of plastic 

The Australian Government has set up a Website to warn that we have to act now in order to stop the long lifespan of plastic with simple ways and what we can do. Like taking alternatives  such as using reusable items water bottles, shopping bags and keep cups 

If we increase Australia's resource recovery rate to 80%, an extra 15 million tonnes will be recovered every year.Taking no action would place increasing pressure on our remaining landfill sites, some of which are reaching capacity. Every year, we dispose of 28 million tonnes of materials into landfill.

Conclusion - 

I have clearly shown all the facts that point to help propose we ban single-use plastic at school and start an awareness campaign. Our government, including our education department, needs to add recycling. This is shocking evidence and we as a society need to do more. We as a nation need to do more and also as a school. All of us as a society need to find better ways to recycle it. It is up to us. We should not send our plastics overseas for them to get rid of.. We need to have places in Australia where we can send our cups, straws and plastic to be recycled.

I want you to look at how much plastic you have in your house, i want you to check that you have and use the right bin. I want you to think how you could get rid of your plastic in the right way.