"Planet or Plastic?"
-INFORMATIVE ESSAY-
We, as individuals, have been using a lot of plastics for so many years. A product made out of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) chemical which is used in many purposes such as plastic bags, plastic bottles, plastic utensils and many more. We have been taking a lot of advantages using this product in mere ways that somehow, has made our lives easier and more productive. An article from the National Geographic magazine states that plastic wasn't invented until the late 19th century and the massive production only took off around 1950. Humans indeed made plastic out of their knowledge in Science and for the reason that it would benefit the next generations to come.
However, we depend on it too much and now, we're drowning in it without even being aware. For the past 69 years, we've almost had a 9.2 billion tons of used plastic. Within that ton of plastics, it is recorded that 6.9 billion tons have become waste and out of that waste, a staggering 6.3 billion tons never made it to any recycling bins. Imagine that those amount is larger than the population of all the people on earth today. Which is 7 billion and more. These facts have stunned the scientists who have crunched the numbers way back 2017. In addition to this, we have been left with nothing to see but trash especially in the different habitats of the Animal Kingdom.
No one barely knows how much unrecycled plastic waste ends up in our ocean every day, which is the Earth's last sink. Even the atmosphere is getting destroyed just by the production of plastic itself. The different species that is known to have a peaceful and clean environment, now experiences the struggle that they never caused to happen. Because of the irresponsible ways of mankind, the Mother Earth suffers effects that she never deserved. In return to this, we, humans also suffer the same fate with both natural and man-made tragic calamities. Life became harder and harder as the years past by.
But how could we really lessen the overpopulation and usage of plastic that is greatly increasing and constantly outgrowing out nation? Firstly, we must be aware of the fact that the usage of these things is abused. They were not handled properly after being invented. Discipline must start within ourselves and not from anybody else. In order to make a better change and create a better life, focus within our own lives first. We cannot hide the fact that we are constantly using different products made out of plastic in our daily lives.
Therefore, in order to help take care of our environment, we must lessen the usage of materials that contains plastic. We must be educated to learn about the segregation and recycle properly anything that we consume. These ways are the normal things that we even used to learn at our schools but sometimes, not really followed. Ignorance must not be taken into account.
Now, it is up to you to choose. Benefits that causes our lives to be hard or natural ways that can improve our lives to be a better something out of nothing.
Planet or Plastic?
- @marcmaccoy Stem 12-J
