Single-Use Plastics: Their Impact and Possible Solutions
Single-use plastics are the largest culprit of our disposable consumer lifestyle, contributing to millions of tonnes of waste every single year. But there are ways you can enable your community's residents to help.
Plastic waste has become a significant global environmental and disposal challenge, and single-use plastics are the largest culprit of our disposable consumer lifestyle.
Globally, 450 metric tonnes of plastic are produced every year. Compare this to the year 1950, when just two metric tonnes of plastic were produced. That’s a 22,400% rise in plastic production in 70 years, and the planet can’t keep up. As the number of single-use plastics rises—nearly half of all plastic products now produced are used for single-use products—plastic waste is often incinerated, sent to landfills, or ends up littered across the earth and ocean, becoming a pollutant and heavy contributor to the climate change crisis.
What are Single-Use Plastics?
Single-use plastics are materials made from fossil fuel-based chemicals and are intended to be used once before being discarded. These items can include grocery bags, water bottles, utensils, food packaging, and more.
Why are Single-Use Plastics Bad for the Environment?
Single-use plastics are so widely produced and used due to their convenience. They’re usually small, seemingly innocuous, and their impact seems negligible. But when they make up nearly half of the plastic produced, they are accounting for millions of tonnes of plastic waste.
The carbon footprint left by plastic is massive:
- The extraction process and transportation of fossil fuels alone emits anywhere between 1.5 and 12.5 million metric tonnes of greenhouse gases;
- Deforesting land and pipeline construction has released 1.6 billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide into the air; and
- Plastic refinement emits another 184 to 213 million metric tons of greenhouse gases annually.
Only 9% of plastic produced is recycled, and most single-use plastics aren’t recyclable at all. An additional 19% of plastics are incinerated, leaching toxins into the atmosphere. The remaining 72% of the over 9 billion tonnes of plastic ever produced now resides in landfills or has been released into our earth and oceans. This results in adverse health effects for humans and animals, such as a rise in cardiovascular disease, birth defects, cancer, and more.
How Can You Increase Awareness of Single-Use Plastics in Your Community?
1. Organize a community event
Work with residents to bring awareness to the impact that plastics have on the environment. There are several events that you may be interested in organizing for your community, including:
- World Oceans Day: On June 8th, communities around the globe come together to protect the ocean by preventing plastic pollution. There are free resources available to plan your event such as cleanups, festivals, lectures, or readings.
- Plastic-Free July: The month of July has been dedicated to raising awareness about single-use disposable plastics and how people can reduce their usage. Millions of people and 159 countries have participated to avoid landfill waste and reduce their eco-footprint.
- International Coastal Cleanup: For over 35 years, Ocean Conservancy has been calling on people to collect and document the trash they find along the coastline. You can use their interactive map to find a coordinator organizing a cleanup in your region.
- Host A Film Screening: Engage your community and encourage your residents to begin talking about the impact of plastics by showing a film that details the impacts of plastic usage.
2. Create public education campaigns
Develop education campaigns for your community that focus on how they can reduce their single-use plastic consumption. These campaigns can include posters, banners, ads, social media posts, and more. Focus on conscious consumer choices that residents can make to reduce their plastic footprint. Some examples include:
- Bottles: Use a reusable bottle of tap water instead of buying plastic bottled water
- Bags: Bring your own canvas tote bag instead of using plastic grocery bags
- Straws: Say no to plastic straws at restaurants or with your to-go drinks
- Packaging: Purchase food from small stores or bulk food stores using their own containers instead of buying pre-packaged foods
- Consider implementing a bag ban in your city, like San Francisco, CA or Santa Fe, NM
3. Implement a waste education platform
Apps like Recycle Coach allow residents to learn where they are—and that’s usually on their phones. With resources like a comprehensive collection calendar, a “What Goes Where” search tool with a camera function, quizzes, and learning resources, users have a comprehensive waste learning tool at their fingertips that makes a measurable difference in their waste practices. Municipalities also have the option of promoting local events and hosting sign-ups within the app, increasing community awareness and participation.
Reach out today to learn how Recycle Coach can help your community reach its waste goals.
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Single-Use Plastics: Their Impact and Possible Solutions
Single-use plastics are the largest culprit of our disposable consumer lifestyle, contributing to millions of tonnes of waste every single year. But there are ways you can enable your community's residents to help.
Plastic waste has become a significant global environmental and disposal challenge, and single-use plastics are the largest culprit of our disposable consumer lifestyle.
Globally, 450 metric tonnes of plastic are produced every year. Compare this to the year 1950, when just two metric tonnes of plastic were produced. That’s a 22,400% rise in plastic production in 70 years, and the planet can’t keep up. As the number of single-use plastics rises—nearly half of all plastic products now produced are used for single-use products—plastic waste is often incinerated, sent to landfills, or ends up littered across the earth and ocean, becoming a pollutant and heavy contributor to the climate change crisis.
What are Single-Use Plastics?
Single-use plastics are materials made from fossil fuel-based chemicals and are intended to be used once before being discarded. These items can include grocery bags, water bottles, utensils, food packaging, and more.
Why are Single-Use Plastics Bad for the Environment?
Single-use plastics are so widely produced and used due to their convenience. They’re usually small, seemingly innocuous, and their impact seems negligible. But when they make up nearly half of the plastic produced, they are accounting for millions of tonnes of plastic waste.
The carbon footprint left by plastic is massive:
- The extraction process and transportation of fossil fuels alone emits anywhere between 1.5 and 12.5 million metric tonnes of greenhouse gases;
- Deforesting land and pipeline construction has released 1.6 billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide into the air; and
- Plastic refinement emits another 184 to 213 million metric tons of greenhouse gases annually.
Only 9% of plastic produced is recycled, and most single-use plastics aren’t recyclable at all. An additional 19% of plastics are incinerated, leaching toxins into the atmosphere. The remaining 72% of the over 9 billion tonnes of plastic ever produced now resides in landfills or has been released into our earth and oceans. This results in adverse health effects for humans and animals, such as a rise in cardiovascular disease, birth defects, cancer, and more.
How Can You Increase Awareness of Single-Use Plastics in Your Community?
1. Organize a community event
Work with residents to bring awareness to the impact that plastics have on the environment. There are several events that you may be interested in organizing for your community, including:
- World Oceans Day: On June 8th, communities around the globe come together to protect the ocean by preventing plastic pollution. There are free resources available to plan your event such as cleanups, festivals, lectures, or readings.
- Plastic-Free July: The month of July has been dedicated to raising awareness about single-use disposable plastics and how people can reduce their usage. Millions of people and 159 countries have participated to avoid landfill waste and reduce their eco-footprint.
- International Coastal Cleanup: For over 35 years, Ocean Conservancy has been calling on people to collect and document the trash they find along the coastline. You can use their interactive map to find a coordinator organizing a cleanup in your region.
- Host A Film Screening: Engage your community and encourage your residents to begin talking about the impact of plastics by showing a film that details the impacts of plastic usage.
2. Create public education campaigns
Develop education campaigns for your community that focus on how they can reduce their single-use plastic consumption. These campaigns can include posters, banners, ads, social media posts, and more. Focus on conscious consumer choices that residents can make to reduce their plastic footprint. Some examples include:
- Bottles: Use a reusable bottle of tap water instead of buying plastic bottled water
- Bags: Bring your own canvas tote bag instead of using plastic grocery bags
- Straws: Say no to plastic straws at restaurants or with your to-go drinks
- Packaging: Purchase food from small stores or bulk food stores using their own containers instead of buying pre-packaged foods
- Consider implementing a bag ban in your city, like San Francisco, CA or Santa Fe, NM
3. Implement a waste education platform
Apps like Recycle Coach allow residents to learn where they are—and that’s usually on their phones. With resources like a comprehensive collection calendar, a “What Goes Where” search tool with a camera function, quizzes, and learning resources, users have a comprehensive waste learning tool at their fingertips that makes a measurable difference in their waste practices. Municipalities also have the option of promoting local events and hosting sign-ups within the app, increasing community awareness and participation.
Reach out today to learn how Recycle Coach can help your community reach its waste goals.
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