Pollution & Its Effects
Pollution happens when the environment is contaminated, or dirtied, by waste, chemicals, and other harmful substances. Pollution include air pollution, water pollution, litter, noise pollution, plastic pollution, soil contamination, radioactive contamination...​
Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment. These harmful materials are called pollutants. Pollutants can be natural, such as volcanic ash. They are also mainly created by human activity, such as trash or runoff produced by factories. Pollutants damage the quality of air, water, and land.-
What are the effects of Plastic Pollution?
Plastics wreak havoc on ecosystems. They pollute water, soil and air. They threaten the health of all life, from sea turtles and birds to every human being around the planet.
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Plastic sticks around in the environment for ages, threatening wildlife and spreading toxins. Plastic also contributes to global warming. Almost all plastics are made from chemicals that come from the production of planet-warming fuels (gas, oil and even coal).
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Unlike other materials, plastic does not biodegrade.
It can take up to 1,000 years to break down, so when it is discarded, it builds up in the environment until it reaches a crisis point. This pollution chokes marine wildlife, damages soil and poisons groundwater, and can cause serious health impacts. - United Nations
​Plastic impacts humans in many ways, from the air we breathe to the food we eat. As a result of waste, air pollution, and packaging, we're exposed to plastic particles in most areas of our lives.
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Not only this, but toxic chemical additives in plastics can alter hormone activity in the human body which disrupts reproduction, growth and cognitive function. Microplastics also act as vessels for pathogens to enter the human body which increases the spread of disease.
Different chemicals can leach from our plastic water bottles, knives and dermatologic products to enter our bodies. These compounds are linked to serious health issues such as endocrine disruption, weight gain, insulin resistance, decreased reproductive health, and cancer.
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Millions of animals are killed by plastics every year, from birds to fish to other marine organisms. Nearly 700 species, including endangered ones, are known to have been affected by plastics. Nearly every species of seabird eats plastics. Most of the deaths to animals are caused by entanglement or starvation. -National Geographic
​What are the reasons for plastic pollution?
Every year we use several billion plastic items such as shopping bags, bottles, caps, cups, cutlery, trays, straws and food packaging. Much of the world's plastic pollution is generated by single-use products Pollution sources are mainly land-based, coming from urban and stormwater runoff, littering, industrial activities, tyre abrasion, construction, and agriculture.
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How to Reduce Plastic?
​​​The simplest way to reduce plastic waste is to avoid unnecessary and single-use plastics!
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Choose products with less plastic packaging and support businesses that are working to reduce their plastic waste.
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Say no to disposable plastic cutlery, plastic straws and other single-use plastics. Avoid plastics that cannot be recycled if other alternatives exist.
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​​​Find a food store where you can get your fresh produce and meat wrapped in paper, rather than plastic. Use aluminium foil to wrap food rather than plastic cling wrap.
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Bring your own bags whenever you shop, not just for the supermarket. By bringing your own bag, you alone can save between 400 and 600 plastic bags per year.
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Use reusable coffee cups and shopping bags etc., instead of single-use ones.
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When you shop, consider buying some grocery items in bulk by filling your own containers.
​​​​​​​Some Facts about Plastic Pollution
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Over 300 million tonnes of plastic are produced every year.
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Only 14% of plastic is recycled.
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There are five “garbage islands” in the world's oceans - The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the North Atlantic Gyre, the South Atlantic Gyre, the South Pacific Gyre, and the Indian Ocean Gyre -that have a significant impact on the ocean.
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There are over 150 million tonnes of plastic in the ocean(s).
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About 49% of the waste found at sea is disposable plastics.
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​Plastic was invented in 1907.
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Plastic is made from fossil fuels.
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Plastic takes hundreds of years to break down.
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More than 40 percent of plastic is used just once before it is thrown away.
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More than 5 trillion pieces of plastic are already floating in our oceans
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There will be more plastic in our oceans than fish by 2050. The amount of plastic ending up in the ocean every year could triple in the next 20 years meaning in less than 30 years there would be more plastic in the sea than fish.
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Scientists are trying to invent plastic made from natural materials.https://www.funkidslive.com/learn/top-10-facts/top-10-facts-about-plastic/
Recycling
​Recycling is one of the most useful environmental practices.
Besides reducing piles of garbage, recycling protects habitat and biodiversity, and saves energy,
water, and resources such as trees etc.
Recycling also cuts global warming pollution from manufacturing, landfilling and incinerating.
​​By Reducing the amount of stuff we buy in the first place, and Reusing what we can,
we also reduce the environmental harm associated with acquiring raw materials and manufacturing.
Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products. Recycling can benefit your community, the economy, and the environment. Products should only be recycled if they cannot be reduced or reused.
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Recycling helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing energy consumption. Using recycled materials to make new products reduces the need for virgin materials. This avoids greenhouse gas emissions that would result from extracting or mining virgin material.
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Recycling prevents pollution, reduces waste going to the landfills and incinerators, conserves energy, creates jobs, producing economic benefits, supports public health, saves money, and more. By improving our recycling habits, we can help keep the environment clean and preserve our natural resources.
​By recycling we create a healthier planet for ourselves and future generations.
What can be recycled?
Cardboard, paper, plastic, glass, aluminium, can, metal, bottles, foil...
Non-recyclable items
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Garbage.
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Food waste.
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Food-tainted items (such as: used paper plates or boxes, paper towels, or paper napkins)
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Ceramics and kitchenware.
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Windows and mirrors.
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Plastic wrap.
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Packing peanuts and bubble wrap.
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Wax boxes.
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​​​Why is recycling so expensive?
Collecting, sorting, baling, marketing, and shipping recyclables requires a great deal more effort and cost than simply picking up the trash in a neighbourhood and delivering it to a landfill or incinerator.
What will happen if we don't recycle?
Recycling helps reduce pollution by reducing the need for waste incineration and reducing the environmental impacts of resource extraction and processing. What happens if we don't recycle is more waste would be incinerated or sent to landfills, increasing air and water pollution all over the world.​​
Some tips!
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Purchase paper plates and paper cups rather than plastic ones, better still use metal ones - for your next function, picnic, party etc.
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Make it easier for the family by placing bins for recycling around the home and or office.
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Reuse paper, plastic, glass – containers, bags, tins, boxes etc.
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There are some food stores, food takeaways, pharmacies that use paper bags, try to reuse these when you can.
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And the big one at the moment don’t forget to carry your own bags when you go out shopping - cloth, paper or plastic if you are already sitting with a stack of it…imagine the big smile you’ll have on your face when you tell the cashier, “No” to the plastic bag/packet that is being offered!
We have to start weening ourselves off from accepting another plastic bag!
In conclusion, recycling is an essential tool in the fight against
climate change and pollution.
By recycling, we can conserve natural resources, reduce waste, save energy,
create jobs and improve our health.
It is a simple yet effective way for us to make a positive impact on the planet.