Plastics are everywhere. In fact, most of the waste materials produced in homes, schools, and other areas are made from plastics. During the past decade, plastic production has increased due to the demands of consumers. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 331 million barrels of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and natural gas liquids (NGL) were used in 2006 in plastic production. That same year, 19.2 billion kilowatt hours were used to manufacture plastic.
The Problem with So Much Plastic
Plastics are petroleum-based products. The petroleum must be extracted from the earth in order to obtain this non-renewable natural resource. In addition, the nature of manufacturing plastic involves emitting many hazardous pollutants into the environment.
Plastics pose a threat both to human health and to the environment. Some plastics have the capacity to leach Besphinol A (BPA) into the food or beverage inside a plastic container. Once ingested, damage can be done since BPA is a carcinogen.
The production of plastic is a direct response to consumer plastic consumption. The average American uses 130 plastic bags a year, each one taking up to 1,000 years to decompose. The light nature of these packaging hazards results in countless bags ending up in our rivers, oceans and drains. In addition, 2.5 million plastic bottles are used every hour in the US. Unfortunately, most of these bottles are thrown away. As a result, up to 1 million sea creatures die every year due to plastics thrown in oceans.
Isn’t Plastic Recyclable?
There are a few problems facing the recycling of plastics. First, although plastics may come with a little recycling symbol indicating that they can be recycled into new plastic products, this often isn’t the case. Due to the nature of plastics and the manner in which it degrades, most plastics cannot survive “closed loop” recycling, the most sustainable form of recycling, to be recycled over and over.
Second, only 63% of communities in the U.S. are offered a plastic recycling program. Even when it’s offered, not all plastics are recycled. PET bottles and HDPE bottles are commonly accepted in community recycling programs. Other plastic products get sent to landfills. Only 10% of US households are given access to recycling of all types of plastics.
Additionally, the US does little to recapture plastic. It’s not a lack of technology, as some European countries have mandated it. The problem lies in the cost, missing incentive and the “new plastic” preference. At this point, plastic manufacturers have little reason to buy recaptured plastic to utilize in their production. Therefore, the idea of closed loop recycling is still not realized. So, the need for more plastic production continues, and the cycle goes on.
What to Do?
Proper plastic disposal will help to minimize the effects on the environment. Choose other options such as glass containers or paper bags when available to reduce your plastic consumption. When necessary, opt for PET and HDPE bottles since they are the easiest plastics to recycle.
