How much plastic is too much for our planet? | The Stream

Microplastics - tiny particles that result from the breakdown of plastics - are everywhere, from the air we breathe to the water we drink. Microscopic plastic pollution has even been found in human bloodstreams and breastmilk. And while the harms caused by microplastics are still being studied, researchers and environmental advocates say more action needs to be taken to rein in plastic pollution.

Despite growing acknowledgement of a global crisis in plastics pollution, demand for plastics continues to rise. Global plastic waste is on track to almost triple by 2060, with about half of the waste ending up in landfills and less than a fifth recycled, according to the OECD.

Last month, the first round of talks began for a Global Plastics Treaty that would be the first legally binding agreement on plastic pollution. But UN members, particularly countries with fossil fuel interests, could not agree to mandatory curbs on production.

In this episode of The Stream, we’ll look at the outlook for plastic pollution and what’s being done to address it.

Join the conversation:

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#plasticpollution

[cliffcr]

To solve the plastic waste problem would be to implement the following two simple things as a great start:

1. Recycl all disposed of plastics.
2. Ban all one-time-use plastic products such as disposable cups, plastic straws, plastic spoons, forks, and knives, along with food and product packaging.

This is so simple it can't be done.

[sma]

Currently we use round bottles in Tanzania to build walls but due to round shape it needs to be stabilize by use of wires and cement and also needs skilled labour. See you tube video

[swapshots]

Who the heck ever sticks a plastic wrapped anything in the oven?

[PreciousEvans]

Stop the production of plastics then, we've had enough of it. Period.

[sma]

If all manufacturers of beverages, oils, sauces can be forced to pack their products in square interlocking- Lego like- after being empty it can be used to build internal walls by simply filling with earth, closing the cap and interlocking them. Even children can build the walls. Not a single bottle will be thrown away especially in the third world creating a win win solution.
I’m retired construction engineer.

[vanessavergara]

the world took in more plastics than it can handle a long time ago smh

[anthonytidey]

It's a shamefully/costly waste as the majority of plastic is made from oil, so all types can easily be recycled.
In fact there is a company in Swindon, Wiltshire, UK who I believe have a process, that waste plastic is processed into raw feedstock for the chemical/plastics manufactures to turn it back into raw plastic.
I believe that the idea is to collect plastic from waste, recycling etc and send this to central chemical processing plants such as Avonmouth, Bristol etc.
If govenment's made it mandatory to return plastic bottles etc for say 5 or 10p UK.
As was stated in your programme a small amount of the plastic filters into our food.
Also reusing plastic bottles has the same effect, a small amount of the plastic is leached into the refilled water or drink, I used to do this but have stopped.
I have several recycling bins, have found that the so called recycling plastic bags do not recycle, eg. the UK, Co-Op green ones.
Similar to the plastic tea bags, my compost worm's seem to put them in little bundles, very helpful when I'm spreading the compost around the garden, I can pick them out and put them in my gray waste bin. So have stopped adding these to my compost bins.
In the case of bags for food shopping we should go back to paper bags which will recycle in compost bins or household recycling bins.
They are also cheaper to make.
Thanks for a very thought provoking programme.

[lindada]

This looks like a regular ad in my country

[sma]

The empties doesn’t need even cleaning. Needless to say it will cut off the cumbersome process of collecting, transporting, cleaning and grinding before recycling.

[breunissensanta]

This is scary. How did the people in the 1950's manage without all the plastics. I know that cold drinks was in glass bottles. If plastic pollution go on like this we will later walk on plastic in stead of walking on sand.

[zzz]

We should be extremely worried about the global dramatic increases in excess deaths and chronic critical illnesses as result of covid. vaccines and talk about plastics and the mega climat change buisness agenda when those criminals are locked up for good

[aaACEa]

How much plastic is too much for our planet?
...as much as papers, metals, all non-organic matter.

Refine/recycle, manage and mitigate indiscriminate use/disposal of all resources (not just plastic).

[pp]

They say it takes hundreds of years for the plastics to break down in the landfill. It takes 2 seconds to break them down by burning them, and they break down into particles so small they can be lighter than air.

[WaysToGrow]

There is a simple sustainable solution to transition from plastic.. the problem is, does the industry want to make the transition.

[sherirobinson]

Why isn't it used for building materials and road's?
We should not be producing more when we can recycle 100%!

[IraJavier]

Video: let's do our best to reduce plastic in our body

Video Ad: Stick this plastic lens in your eyes

[levavarts]

Wowzaaaa, I was partially aware of microplastics but I didn't know it was THAT 😑

[BBailey-gm]

Nobody seems to be tackling the problem of plastic toys for children, which amounts to a worldwide

[abiel]

Humans are also animals!? 🤦🏻‍♂️
Everything was goin well until.. she says this!

[brendan.]

There is so much plastic it is disgusting