How big is the problem of plastic waste today?

What are the benefits of downsizing plastic in our everyday lives?

This post is about plastic consumption and waste and how it relates to human health and the environment.

PLASTIC PRODUCTION AND WASTE

Most plastics are derived from fossil fuels, such as natural gas and petroleum (oil). About 4% of total gas and oil resources worldwide goes towards the production of plastic. Although that is a relatively small percentage of total petroleum consumption, it still equates to over 300 million metric tons of plastic produced EVERY YEAR from non-renewable resources.

Part of the plastic problem is that almost half (42%) of nonfiber plastics are used for packaging that is discarded regularly. Sadly, about 60% (or 4900 out of 8300 million metric tons) of plastics created so far is already sitting in landfills or polluting the environment, and that number is only growing.

Another part of the problem is that plastic takes a long time to break down, often hundreds of years to biodegrade completely. For example, one average plastic water bottle in a landfill takes about 450 years to break down. Other processes have been implemented to deal with the waste, such as incineration or pyrolysis (to extract fuel), but these are not the norm. Even recycling (a noble endeavor, by the way) only delays the final disposal when the plastic will reach the end of its usefulness. Recycling “reduces future plastic waste generation only if it displaces primary plastic production.”

TOXINS IN PLASTIC

There are 6 main types of plastic, and they are represented by the common recycling codes you might find imprinted on the bottom of plastic products in your home. Some of them are easily recyclable and some are not recyclable at all. Depending on the type of material, these plastics can also leach toxic chemicals into human food and water systems, especially when heat is applied.

Human and environmental toxins from plastics can include bisphenols (e.g., BPA and BPS), dioxins, vinyl chloride, ethylene dichloride, lead, cadmium, and phthalates (DEHP, BBP, DBP). Most toxins in plastics are endocrine disruptors (they affect hormone production) and are linked to cancer, reduced fertility, metabolic problems, obesity, ADHD, and poor reproductive and brain development in children.

Polyethylene teraphthalate (#1 PET/PETE, also called polyester) and high-density polyethylene (#2 HDPE) make up most of the food and household packaging for items such as bottled water, milk jugs, detergents and cleaning solutions, and personal care products. These are the better types of plastic because they have little to no toxicity and are the easiest to recycle and turn into secondary products.

The other categories of plastic include polyvinyl chloride (#3 PVC), low-density polyethylene (#4 LDPE), polypropylene (#5 PP), polystyrene/styrofoam (#6 PS), as well as miscellaneous plastics (#7 Other). This last group includes mixed plastics, polyurethane (PU), bioplastics, etc. All of these contain concerning amounts of harmful chemicals, but #3 PVC, #6 PS, and #7 PU have some of the highest toxin levels. They are all either nonrecyclable or more difficult to recycle than PET and HDPE. Even bioplastic, such as the “biodegradable” polyactic acid (PLA) made from plant starch, is not the perfect plastic alternative. Bioplastics must be sorted separately and sent to an industrial compost facility to break down properly. If not disposed of responsibly, bioplastics will pollute the environment just like regular plastics do.

PLASTIC POLLUTION

So, what happens with those discarded plastics that do not make it to a recycling facility or controlled landfill? They get scattered around the world and pollute water systems, including rivers, lakes, and eventually the ocean. Over time they “biodegrade” into microplastics that can then poison hosts of birds, sea creatures and aquatic organisms. Remember those toxins? When fish or other sea animals ingest microplastic, the toxins may kill the animal or settle in the animal’s body and, consequently, enter the food chain. Thus, we may be getting doubly harmed: first from packaging or containers that surround our food, and secondly, from contaminated seafood.

You may be asking WHAT are our alternatives to plastic? HOW can we start to reduce our share of plastic use and waste?