Abandoning plastic wastage
Plastic is a major contributor to both land and water pollution. When it's not properly disposed of, it can end up in our oceans and rivers.
THE world continues its gradual descent into environmental peril as we overlook the critical need to minimise or substitute plastic waste. Recent studies reveal that they expect plastic waste to triple by the year 2060. Though this may not seem like a big issue, the impact of plastic pollution is severe on the lives of ordinary people and wildlife.
Plastic pollution stands as a significant contributor to climate change alongside greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change has become a trending topic recently – we have seen the impact it has had on weather patterns. Climate change played a pivotal role in the devastating floods that struck KwaZulu-Natal in 2022.
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The escalation of plastic waste, doubling in the 1970s and steadily increasing into the 2000s, now threatens to triple in the 2020s. Faizal Essop, a member of Bush Xplorers, emphasises the gravity of plastic wastage, citing its shocking impact on marine life and the environment.
“The impact that plastic has on marine life and the environment is shocking. I know several things like plastic water bottles, straws, plastic bags, even old tires and cigarette butts don’t decay and rot. They have a very negative impact on human life and animal life all around the globe. They said global plastic waste is estimated to triple by 2060, and they say that less than half, less than a fifth only gets recycled,” said Essop.
The impact of plastic wastage on human and animal life:
The repercussions of plastic wastage on human and animal life exceed common expectations. Humans and animals form part of an interconnected ecosystem reliant on the environment. A polluted environment inevitably leads to adverse effects.
“A lot of animals sometimes feed on plastic. You see pictures of ducks feeding on plastics or you see a lion sitting on a plastic water bottle – it’s going to have an impact on them going forward, and it’s one of the reasons these animals are possibly going extinct. A study made recently stated that they have found microplastics in the internal systems of every human being they’ve studied. Nobody’s going to go eat tires or plastic, but it becomes part of nature. It’s become part of our system. It can and will be a reason for us becoming sick,” said Essop.
How to reduce or replace plastic wastage:
Addressing this issue requires concerted efforts at the community level. While some businesses have adopted sustainable packaging alternatives, these initiatives need broader implementation.
The battle against plastic pollution commences within our communities, with practical measures such as utilising recycling bins, installing netting in drainage systems to capture waterborne debris and embracing the principles of the 3Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle.
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