Embrace recycling, help create a world without plastic waste

Each year, millions of people around the world are encouraged to refuse single-use plastics as part of Plastic Free July. 

 Plastics SA and the global plastics industry say they have been advocating and working towards the same goals for the past 25 years and that is to see a world without plastic waste.

“We have been working relentlessly to raise awareness of the dangers of plastic pollution as part of our drive to see a world without plastic waste,” said Anton Hanekom, executive director of Plastics SA.

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Hanekom also stressed that it would be impossible for the 7.5 billion people living on the planet today to live a normal life without plastics – regardless of whether they are conscious of this or not.

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“Plastic is an integral part of our modern life style. Strong and versatile, plastic exists because we want convenience at a low price. It keeps our food fresh, ensures food safety, gives us tamper proof medications and the list continues. If we were to remove it from our lives, we would have to get rid of almost everything we wear,  live in, or work with. The challenge lies in preventing plastic from ending up in the environment after it has been used, and making sure that it is properly discarded so that it can be recycled into a multitude of different new products,” he added.

Despite the harsh criticism it has had to endure over recent years, plastic continues to expand its applications in terms of variety and volume – and researchers are starting to change their anti-plastic messages. Almost weekly, new research challenges the benefits of banning plastics.

“We believe that the time has come to acknowledge plastics as the environmental hero that it is, instead of the environmental villain it is made out to be. As waste collection improves, we see improved recovery models and the development of a circular economy. The solution lies in addressing our wasteful model of consumption by changing negligent human behaviour and embracing recycling. All it takes is a little willpower from everybody concerned,” Hanekom concluded.

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