Addressing the plastic problem
Excerpt
The problem with plastic materials is that many of them last forever. While some types are considered biodegradable, many require industrial-level processes to be recycled or broken down to harmless materials. Plastics are very useful for many industries. For example, up to a fourth of all packaging used globally are made of plastic. Plastic packaging helps food stay fresher, longer. Plastic containers also weigh less, contributing to fuel and transportation savings. Despite their usefulness, plastics are a serious problem. In a 2018 National Geographic article, the estimated amount of plastics used since the 1950s is estimated to be around 9.2 billion tons. Seventy-five percent of that — or some 6.9 billion tons — are already plastic waste material. Even worse, sixty-eight percent, or 6.3 billion tons, escaped into the environment, never making it to a waste basket or bin — let alone a proper waste disposal facility.
Citation
Angara, S. (2019, September 13). Addressing the plastic problem. Panay News, pp. 10, 14.
Associated content
Online versionSubject
Plastics; Waste disposal; Oceans; Fish; Animal welfare; Food chains; Litter; Marine debris; Environmental protection; Environmental restoration; Environmental legislation; Environmental degradation; National Geographic; Ocean Conservancy; McKinsey Center for Business and Environment; National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC); Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); Department of Science and Technology (DOST); Department of Agriculture (DA); Department of Health (DoH); Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH); Board of Investment (BOI); Jambeck, Jenna; Sagan, Carl
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- Panay News [1423]
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