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Have you guys ever wondered what a sea turtle naturally eats? Unfortunately, it’s plastic. Research has shown that 52% of sea turtles have eaten at least one plastic waste. Why do they eat plastic? The reason is very simple: floating plastic waste can look like jellyfish, algae, seaweed, sea cucumber, or crabs that they usually eat. I’m sure that most of you have seen a video of a biologist removing a plastic straw from a turtle’s nostrils. But, only some of those lucky sea turtles get help from people while many of them have died because they mistake plastic for their food.
The problem is every year, over a million marine animals including mammals, sea turtles, fishes, sharks, and seabirds are killed due to plastic pollution in the ocean. People are producing 300 million tons of plastic every year, but more than 8 million tons of plastic are dumped into our oceans every year. As we know plastic is cheap and versatile makes it ideal for many applications, we, humans are addicted to single-use plastic. However, these qualities will lead to environmental issues especially plastic pollution on the ocean. Most of the plastic items never fully disappear, they just get smaller and smaller. Many of these tiny plastics were swallowed by marine animals that mistake them for their food. So, why does ocean plastic pollution happen? First is littering. People do not throw plastic into the recycle bin and the rainwater or wind will carry the plastic waste into the drains and then the drains lead to the ocean. Second, ocean dumping is also one of the main reasons for ocean plastic pollution. Some of the biggest producers do not manage their waste effectively and they just throw them into the ocean.
While the ocean is gradually turning into a plastic soup, what solutions are expected to reduce ocean plastic pollution? The most effective and efficient ways are to stop the flow of plastic waste into the ocean and ban the use of plastic. A study has shown that up to 80 percent of the plastic waste in the ocean comes from the activities and industries on the land. The industry plays a larger role than individuals in reducing ocean plastic pollution. Why is it that a product that is intended to be used for minutes is packaged with plastic that will last forever? This is the thing. The industries must introduce alternative sustainable packaging that is eco-friendly. For example, there is something called cornstarch packaging. Cornstarch is an organic material that has been made into the eco-friendly packaging industry. It has plastic-like properties and it is food-safe, low flammability, good for print applications, and most importantly can be recycled. Besides, the government should ban the use of plastic bags and straws in shops to encourage people to use recycled bags while purchasing things. This is because people think that 20sen is not that expensive to get plastic bags, so, they will keep on using plastic bags.
Now friends, imagine what would happen if we did not stop the flow of plastic waste into the ocean and ban plastic. What will happen to marine animals? What are the long-term effects of plastic pollution on the environment and human health? Plastic pollution is affecting the whole earth, it is like a disease spreading and getting more and more serious. This is because when marine animals eat plastic, they die eventually. And after that, if we consume those animals, the harmful chemicals in the body of the animal could have harmed our body. Bisphenol A, also known as BPA, has proven to hurt the human endocrine system that will cause different diseases such as cancer, early puberty, and birth defects in newborn babies. On land, wind and rain will carry the plastic waste through the environment and it will be stuck in trees, traffic lights, and other structures. Over time, it will cause land pollution. Hence, if we do not stop the flow of plastic into the ocean, the ocean is expected to have more plastic than fish in 2050.
As we always say, action speaks louder than words. Friends, these are the 4 things you can do to stop plastic pollution. First, give up on the plastic bag while purchasing or shopping and carry a reusable bag. There are many cute and beautiful recycle bags, so you don’t need to feel shy to use them. Not only that, it is also very convenient and easy to use. Second, carry your container when you take away your food instead of relying on plastic or Styrofoam boxes. Bringing your container means no disposable plastic. No plastic means no ocean plastic pollution and no plastic pollution means a brighter future for animals, humans, and the environment. Third, give up on plastic bottles or cups and bring your mug or bottle because 80% of the plastic bottles couldn’t get recycled. Not only that, plastic also may leach chemicals into the water and affect our health. Lastly, use stainless steel straws, glass straws, or bamboo straws instead of using a plastic straw when you buy drinks. These straws are reusable, easy to clean, safe to use, and most importantly eco-friendly. Always remember that your small steps and actions can save the earth.
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