Plastic Pollution - Popular Questions Now Answered

Want to know more on:

What does plastic pollution really mean?
How plastic pollution affects humans, animals and our environment?
How can we reduce plastic pollution to help combat climate change?

What is Plastic Pollution?

Simply put, plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic waste in the environment.

Just like plastic, to break it down even further, pollution can be separated into two divisions

1. Primary Plastics

This includes anything from microbeads found in cosmetic care products such as exfoliation cleansers, to fishing nets to discarded bottles, caps, and cigarette butts.

2. Secondary Plastics

Commonly known as microplastics. This is the result of primary plastics breaking down to the point of being microscopic. Defined by size, from microplastics to macroplastics

Plastic Pollution - Popular Questions Now Answered

How does plastic pollution affect humans, animals, and our environment?

The cycle of pollution spans from land to sea and touches humans, animals, and the environment.

Animals

The ingestion of plastic waste is fast becoming a leading cause of death amongst wildlife both on and off shores.

Marine pollution, microplastics and non-biodegradable waste such as fishing nets and single-use plastic continue to cause havoc amongst wildlife as they can trap and then injure a diverse range of species.

Research has shown that at least 700 species and counting are now threatened with extinction because of plastic pollution along with a loss of habitat.

Humans

Plastic has been proven to contain harmful chemicals used during production.

Exposure to such toxins as Bisphenol A (BPA) in humans can lead to several potentially life-threatening outcomes such as cancer, infertility, hormonal issues and even birth defects.

Plastic Pollution - Popular Questions Now Answered

How can you help reduce plastic pollution and combat climate change?

Changing our habits is the most crucial step forward in the reduction of plastic waste and pollution. While many of us believe that just clearing the world waterways of debris will help combat the damage already done, this is only a temporary solution.

Reduction starts with education and a shift in mindset. Sustainability over convenience is now an urgent call to action. Never has it been more important to implement the three Rs into everyday use and change our behaviours by reducing, reusing, and recycling your plastic.

Start small by following the simple actions listed:

1.Reduce

Lower your plastic consumption by actively seeking a better and more sustainable alternative. Where you can, make a conscious decision to only use plastic when entirely necessary.

2. Reuse

Think creatively about how you can reuse plastic you may already have accumulated. Make the effort where possible to try and change behavioral patterns from single use to reusable especially when it comes to water bottles, coffee cups, shopping bags and food containers.

3. Recycle

The golden rule in recycling is to never bag your recyclables before throwing them away. If you use a plastic bag to gather your plastic, tin, or cardboard, always ensure to dispose of the bag correctly once you have emptied the contents into its designated disposal area.

Make sure to read the labels on anything you might consider for recycling. Like the plastic bag issue, this can cause further problems further down the line in recycling plants.

Always clear your recyclables before disposal. Should it be a container with a lid, make sure to flatten the material as much as possible before placing the lid back on and recycling it.

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