We've all seen the heartbreaking pictures of beaches covered in trash, or the turtles with plastic constraining their shells. A team of Australia researchers from the Australian Research Council Center of Excellence for Climate System Science stated, "Humans have put so much plastic into our planet’s oceans that even if everyone in the world stopped putting garbage in the ocean today, giant garbage patches would continue to grow for hundreds of years". We know its an issue that can't be ignored, but people continue to do very little to change our ways. The convenience factor plastic offers is hard to beat, but is it really a benefit worth sacrificing our own environment?
Virtually every piece of plastic that has ever been made still exists today. We have been told again and again that we should reduce, reuse, recycle; that this will save the world from falling farther on its downwards spiral. We are told that if we recycle then we don't have to feel guilty about the plastic water bottle we used simply for its convenience, but still we currently only recover about five percent of plastic.
Corporate responsibility is one solution scientists are discussing. When producers take responsibility for their product's entire lifetime, they are then burdened with the task of either properly disposing of it or reusing it. Let the companies contributing to the plastic pollution share the liability, SHARE being the key word. Yes, companies should take some of the responsibility, but it is our job as consumers to help make that happen. Let's start actually considering our actions and how they will affect our environment in the future.
This Earth Day, April 22nd, it's time to make a difference. Let's help to maintain the beautiful place we call home. In kindergarten they told us to clean up after ourselves, and today this rule still applies. Yes, we've kind of made a mess of everything already (the ocean has a floating island of garbage larger than the state of Texas), but can't we learn from our mistakes?
Take part in a community clean up. Even in a small town, there are probably roads covered in trash. Disposing of plastic and non-biodegradable materials correctly is so important to local ecosystems, plus you'll feel great once it's done.
Start a compost pile to avoid sending food waste to land fills. Simply reducing the amount to trash you throw away will make a huge difference. If you have a garden, the compost makes an incredible nutrient rich soil that your plants will love.
Switch out your plastic bags and water bottles for something reusable. Right now, Americans throw away 35 billion plastic water bottles each year (source: Brita), and even just one person can make a difference. Not only are reusable water bottles better for the environment, but you will save a lot of money in the long run.
Spread the word! One person will make a difference, but a hundred? That can make an impact. By spreading the word and helping to educate people on the effects each of their actions have on our planet, we can start to create a more sustainable environment for future generations. Treat every day like it's Earth Day, and take part in making our home a better place.
