Introduction
Among the many tentative social issues that impact societies globally, the most pertinent are those related to the environment. Irreversible natural processes that occur across the planet are out of human control, and the scope of their advancement in force and frequency demands an immediate and qualitative change in the ways people interact with nature. Industrial societies have produced omnipresent consumerism that has led to the overproduction of waste, the most massive of which is plastic. This material, although very cheap and practical, is primarily single-use and does not decompose, which is why all the plastic that has ever been produced is accumulated on the surface of oceans and land. Thus, the world is now in an urgent need to stop plastic pollution by enacting strict measures in all necessary spheres.
The Rationale for Enacting Strict Policies to Eliminate Plastic Waste
There are several critically important reasons why change must occur in the nearest future. Firstly, marine pollution is one of the most vivid motivations for banning plastic from social use. Indeed, according to Nielsen et al., the majority of plastic bottles, bags, cups, utensils, straws, and other objects eventually arrive at beaches and oceans, forming large “plastic patches” (6). Such large areas of marine surfaces adversely impact the life forms of the seas and oceans, as well as consequently harm all ecosystems. Since all the ecosystems are intertwined and interdependent in nature, the breach in the healthy functioning of one system leads to the impeded existence of the others (Beaumont et al. 190-191). Moreover, apart from marine habitats, other animals suffer from plastic waste “via a number of mechanisms, including entanglement, ingestion, smothering, and hitchhiking” (Rochman et al. 1619). Therefore, effective cleaning approaches must be found as soon as possible, as well as other policies, such as a plastic ban or the reduction of plastic manufacturing, must be implemented.
Secondly, apart from large pieces of plastic waste that float on the water surface, there are microplastics that are invisible but cause much harm to the health and life of marine life. As stated by Nielsen et al., “microplastics can negatively affect the reproductive systems of fish” (7). The smallest pieces of plastic are found not only in the water of the oceans and seas but also in the soil and air, in the Arctic ice, and in the bodies of animals and human-beings (Nielsen et al. 7). Since it is proven to cause a negative effect on fish, it might have a similar negative accumulating effect on other forms of life on the planet if the issue is not tackled in the nearest future.
Thirdly, in accordance with the previously stated reasons, the Harmful effect on human health and well-being in a long-term perspective also serves as a reasonable motive for solving the problem of plastic pollution by banning it completely or reducing it. In addition to the direct harm caused by microplastics that are found in the bodies of humans, there are consequential effects of the impeded functioning of ecosystems. As stated by Beaumont et al., societies across the globe actively interact with the oceans because marine ecosystems provide food for people, “carbon storage, waste detoxification,” and recreational benefits (190). Thus, the failure to sustain the healthy state of marine wildlife and the environment will eventually harm societies.
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Similarly, the consequences will be negative for the economies since much of food production and recreational activities’ income depends on the environment. Negative economic implications of plastic pollution will result in the decline of marine resources used by countries globally. The economic impact of plastic waste abundance is two-fold. On the one hand, it is observed in the indirect reduction of resources needed for human economic activities, such as food production and traveling. On the other hand, the costs of cleaning and waste management on such large global scales require extensive expenditures. However, the scope of literature indicates that partial inclusion of the countries into the process of pollution problem solving and such initiatives as volunteer clean-ups of beaches and oceans do not produce the expected result (Jorgensen 2-3). Thus, it is imperative to find effective solutions that would accelerate the process of cleaning the environment for the existing plastic and prevent its production in the future to maintain a clean planet for the generations to come.
The Views of Opponents
The opponents of the immediate elimination of plastic due to its harmful effects on the environment commonly claim that this material has a number of positive features, which validate the continuation of its use. For example, some claim that plastic is the cheapest material of all alternatives possible that is capable of sufficing consumer’s daily needs of comfort. The easy process and low-cost of production validate the continued manufacturing and use of plastic products (Nielsen et al. 9-10). In their opinion, the ban on plastic will cause a disruption in the economy due to the lockdown of all manufacturers producing plastic.
However, the global damages caused to the natural habitat are far more influential for the future of humanity than the disruption of the economic trends of large manufacturers. After all, it is possible to implement innovative solutions for producing alternative materials that would be multiple-use, sustainable, and non-harmful to nature and humans. Moreover, there are several reasons why plastic can no longer be used by people. The chemical composition of this material does not allow plastic debris to break down fast, which is why the decomposition takes centuries, thus accumulating large volumes of waste in all ecosystems. Furthermore, the low price of plastic objects does not motivate people to reuse it, which is why cups, bags, straws, and other plastic products are considered single-use and go to waste. Importantly, although it might be useful to recycle them, such a practice is not very common. Thus, plastic should be banned and alternative materials introduced to improve the environmental state of the planet by plastic-free life.
Conclusion
In summation, among many problems humanity faces in the twenty-first century, environmental issues are some of the most impactful since they are difficult for people to control. Plastic single-use cheap objects constitute a large volume of all waste globally, form big plastic patches in the oceans, seas, and land, thus harming the marine and land wildlife. Plastic pollution has significant human health implications and adverse impact on economies of the world. A plastic ban might be an effective solution to the problem despite the negative economic effects. Given a range of reasons for immediate action aimed at solving the problem of environmental plastic pollution, large-scale, both long- and short-term strategic decisions must be made to implement new policies.
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