The World's Plastic Pollution Crisis Explained

Much of the planet is swimming in discarded plastic, which is harming animal and possibly human health. Can it be cleaned up?

Conservation

Children Play among Plastic

While plastic pollution is a worldwide problem it is most obvious in less-wealthy African and Asian nations, like the Philippines. Here, children play among plastic waste on the shore of Manila Bay.

Photograph by Randy Olson

While plastic pollution is a worldwide problem it is most obvious in less-wealthy African and Asian nations, like the Philippines. Here, children play among plastic waste on the shore of Manila Bay.

Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, as rapidly increasing production of disposable plastic products overwhelms the world’s ability to deal with them. Plastic pollution is most visible in less-wealthy Asian and African nations, where garbage collection systems are often inefficient or nonexistent. But wealthy nations, especially those with low recycling rates, also have trouble properly collecting discarded plastics. Plastic trash has become so ubiquitous it has prompted efforts to write a global treaty negotiated by the United Nations. How Did this Happen? Plastics made from fossil fuels are just over a century old. Production and development of thousands of new plastic products accelerated after World War II to the extent that life without plastics would be unimaginable today. Plastics revolutionized medicine with life-saving devices, made space travel possible, lightened cars and jets—saving fuel and lessening pollution —and saved lives with helmets, incubators , and equipment for clean drinking water. The conveniences plastics offer, however, led to a throw-away culture that reveals the material’s dark side: Today, single-use plastics account for 40 percent of the plastic produced every year. Many of these products, such as plastic bags and food wrappers, are used for mere minutes to hours, yet they may persist in the environment for hundreds of years. Plastics by the Numbers Some key facts:

  • Half of all plastics ever manufactured have been made in the last 15 years.
  • Production increased exponentially, from 2.3 million tons in 1950 to 448 million tons by 2015. Production is expected to double by 2050.
  • Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans from coastal nations. That’s the equivalent of setting five garbage bags full of trash on every foot of coastline around the world.
  • Plastics often contain additives making them stronger, more flexible, and durable. But many of these additives can extend the life of products if they become litter, with some estimates ranging to at least 400 years to break down.

How Plastics Move around the World Most of the plastic trash in the oceans, Earth’s last sink, flows from land. Trash is also carried to sea by major rivers, which act as conveyor belts, picking up more and more trash as they move downstream . Once at sea, much of the plastic trash remains in coastal waters. But once caught up in ocean currents, it can be transported around the world. On Henderson Island, an uninhabited atoll in the Pitcairn Group isolated halfway between Chile and New Zealand, scientists found plastic items from Russia, the United States, Europe, South America, Japan, and China. They were carried to the South Pacific by the South Pacific gyre , a circular ocean current. Microplastics Once at sea, sunlight, wind, and wave action break down plastic waste into small particles, often less than half a centimer (one-fifth of an inch) across. These so-called microplastics are spread throughout the water column and have been found in every corner of the globe, from Mount Everest, the highest peak, to the Mariana Trench, the deepest trough . Microplastics are breaking down further into smaller and smaller pieces. Plastic microfibers (or the even smaller nanofibers), meanwhile, have been found in municipal drinking water systems and drifting through the air. Harm to Wildlife Millions of animals are killed by plastics every year, from birds to fish to other marine organisms. Nearly 700 species, including endangered ones, are known to have been affected by plastics. Nearly every species of seabird eats plastics. Most of the deaths to animals are caused by entanglement or starvation. Seals, whales, turtles, and other animals are strangled by  abandoned fishing gear or discarded six-pack rings. Microplastics have been found in more than 100 aquatic species, including fish, shrimp, and mussels destined for our dinner plates. In many cases, these tiny bits pass through the digestive system and are expelled without consequence. But plastics have also been found to have blocked digestive tracts or pierced organs, causing death. Stomachs so packed with plastics reduce the urge to eat, causing starvation. Plastics have been consumed by land-based animals, including elephants, hyenas, zebras, tigers, camels, cattle, and other large mammals, in some cases causing death. Tests have also confirmed liver and cell damage and disruptions to  reproductive systems , prompting some species, such as oysters, to produce fewer eggs. New research shows that larval fish are eating nanofibers in the first days of life, raising new questions about the effects of plastics on fish populations. Stemming the Plastic Tide Once in the ocean, it is difficult—if not impossible—to retrieve plastic waste. Mechanical systems, such as Mr. Trash Wheel, a litter interceptor in Maryland’s Baltimore Harbor, can be effective at picking up large pieces of plastic, such as foam cups and food containers, from inland waters. But once plastics break down into microplastics and drift throughout the water column in the open ocean, they are virtually impossible to recover. The solution is to prevent plastic waste from entering rivers and seas in the first place, many scientists and conservationists—including the National Geographic Society—say. This could be accomplished with improved waste management systems and recycling, better product design that takes into account the short life of disposable packaging, and reduction in manufacturing of unnecessary single-use plastics.

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Related Resources

Essay on Plastic Bag for Students and Children

500 words essay on plastic bag.

Plastic bags are one of the most commonly used things today. It makes our work easier and gives us a lot of conveniences. They have formed an essential part of our lives now. We use them almost every day for various purposes.

Essay on Plastic Bag

The usage is to the extent that we often get angry at the shopkeeper who refuses to offer us the plastic bag. It becomes daunting to carry your own bag every time. The shopkeeper’s refusal is due to the government ban on plastic bags. One often wonders why? Plastic bags make our lives easier but at what cost? They damage our earth and environment. It is high time we all stop using plastic bags.

Stop Using Plastic Bags

There are a number of reasons to say no to plastic bags. We must stop using them to better our environment and save it from degradation. There are various eco-friendly alternatives that can be used to stop the usage of plastic bags.

Firstly, plastic bags are a major source of plastic pollution. As they are non-biodegradable, they take years to decompose. They contribute to a lot of waste which keeps collecting over the years. Plastic takes thousands of years to break down and decompose. It remains in the land which contributes to the rising problem of land pollution.

Similarly, it also causes water pollution . As people throw away the bags carelessly on the roads, in the drains and rivers, they enter the water bodies. They are carried away by winds in them and sometimes dumped into water deliberately. This plastic bag goes deep in the water and also hampers the aquatic life.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Furthermore, plastic bags contaminate the soil causing hindrance to growth of plants. They seep into the soil after breaking down and remain there causing infertility in soils . The chemical hampers the soil and interferes with agriculture.

Most importantly, plastic causes the death of animals. The animals have no sense of what to eat and what to avoid. The stray animals gulp down plastic bags that get stuck in their bodies. In other words, this causes serious illnesses in their bodies. Sometimes, they choke to death after eating plastic bags.

How to Avoid Plastic Bags?

Though it may be difficult to avoid the plastic bags at first, it needs to be done for the greater good. Plastic is slowly and steadily eating away our planet and damaging it. The government has banned the use of plastic bags but still, people continue to use it despite the ban.

In order to implement these laws strictly, the government must take strict action against the ones using it. Moreover, each of us must come forward to practice this ban and make it successful. We must not buy plastic bags from shopkeepers. Instead, we must refuse to take our groceries in them when the shopkeeper offers us.

Furthermore, we must carry our own cloth or paper bags for shopping. Try to pack your food in steel or aluminum containers instead of plastic ones.

We must encourage children to avoid the use of plastic bags. If we see someone using it, we must call them out immediately. Never throw away the plastic on roads, as animals die after consuming it. We must come together to initiate a ban on plastic and make the world safer and healthier.

FAQs on Plastic Bag

Q.1 Why must we stop using plastic bags?

A.1 We must stop using plastic bags as they cause land pollution, water pollution, and soil pollution. They cause the death of several animals as well.

Q.2 How can one say no to plastic bags?

A.2 It is easy to quit using plastic bags. We must carry our own cloth or paper bags when shopping. Moreover, we must not accept plastic bags from shopkeepers which will discourage them from using them in the first place.

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plastic production fractory

Plastic factories like this one in China are increasing production of virgin plastic, even as plastic pollution sweeps into the oceans in record volumes.

Plastic pollution is a huge problem—and it’s not too late to fix it

Correcting our plastic waste problem requires a fundamental change in thinking about how plastics are made, used, and discarded, two new studies say.

The global campaign to gain control of plastic waste is one of the fastest-growing environmental causes ever mounted. Yet it hasn’t been enough to make a dent in the growing tonnage of discarded plastic that ends up in the seas.

In the next 10 years, the waste that slides into waterways, and ultimately the oceans , will reach 22 million tons and possibly as much as 58 million tons a year. And that’s the “good” news—because that estimate takes into account thousands of ambitious commitments by government and industry to reduce plastic pollution.

Without those pledges, a business-as-usual scenario would be almost twice as bad. With no improvements to managing waste beyond what’s already in place today, 99 million tons of uncontrolled plastic waste would end up in the environment by 2030.

These two scenarios, the result of new research by an international team of scientists, are a far cry from the first global tally published in 2015, which estimated that an average of 8.8 million tons flow into the oceans annually. That was a figure so startling to the world when it was published five years ago, it helped invigorate the plastic trash movement.

Jenna Jambeck, the University of Georgia engineering professor who calculated that number, also came up with a vivid analogy to put it in context. It would be the equivalent of one dump truck tipping a load of plastic into the ocean every minute every day for a year. Jambeck is also part of the team that came up with the new calculations. But coming up with a new way to visualize 22 to 58 million tons proved a challenge.

“I don’t know. We’re getting into the realm of what’s incomprehensible,” she says. “How about a football stadium filled with plastic every day? Or enough plastic to cover Rhode Island or the country of Luxembourg ankle deep?”

For Hungry Minds

Neither of these new analogies, while accurate, capture the magnitude of what’s at stake. (More: We're drowning in plastic—find out why. )

Like climate change, a lot rides on how the global community responds in the next couple of decades. And, though the parallels between the problem of plastic waste and climate change are obvious—both are rooted in oil, the basic ingredient to make plastics, they are dissimilar in one key way: plastic’s persistence. While there is some possibility, however remote, that technology and restoration of natural ecosystems could remove CO 2 from the atmosphere, there is no such analog for plastic. Virtually indestructible, it doesn’t disappear.

“For me, the biggest issue is the question of permanence,” says George Leonard , the Ocean Conservancy’s chief scientist and a member of the team that produced this newest forecast. “If we don’t get the plastic pollution problem in the ocean under control, we threaten contaminating the entire marine food web, from phytoplankton to whales. And by the time the science catches up to this, perhaps definitively concluding that this is problematic, it will be too late. We will not be able to go back. That massive amount of plastic will be embedded in the ocean’s wildlife essentially forever.”

The power of two

plastic pellets

Royal Dutch Shell will produce plastic pellets like these at its new plant in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. The plant will create more than a million tons of the tiny pellets. Many in the Pittsburgh area see it as an economic engine, but others worry about the long-term environmental harm.

The analysis is the second in recent weeks to look ahead to the future of the plastic economy and conclude that correcting the waste problem—40 percent of plastic manufactured today is disposable packaging—requires a fundamental change in thinking about how plastics are made, used, and discarded.

The new findings were made by a team of scientists funded by the National Science Foundation through the University of Maryland’s National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center ( SESYNC ). The other project, which looks ahead to 2040, was led by the Pew Charitable Trusts and SYSTEMIQ, a London-based environmental advisory and investment firm, and was first made public in July. Both studies were published together in the journal Science in September.

What’s unusual is that two independent scientific working groups, using differing methodologies and timelines, reached the same broad conclusions. Both laid blame for the rising tonnage of plastic in the seas on the growth of plastic production that is outpacing the world’s ability to keep up with collecting plastic trash. They also agreed that reducing surging waste requires reducing surging production of virgin plastic.

“The magnitude of the problem is the same. The difference is in methodology,” says Stephanie Borrelle, a marine biologist in New Zealand and lead author of the SESYNC study. “We have to do something about this and do it soon. Our annual count of leakage doesn’t account for what’s already in the oceans.”

Both projects also concluded that plastic waste could be significantly reduced, though not eliminated, using existing technologies. That includes improving waste collection and recycling, redesigning products to eliminate packaging made from unrecyclable plastics, expanding refillables, and in some cases substituting other materials. But solutions such as recycling, now globally hovering around 12 percent, would also require a massive scaling-up with many additional recycling facilities that don’t exist.

The SESYNC project also calls for cleaning up plastic waste from shorelines, where possible. To give an idea of the scale involved in achieving that goal, it would require a billion people to participate in the Ocean Conservancy’s annual beach cleanup that now attracts about one million volunteers.

“The inconvenient truth now is that this business-as-usual growth in production of new plastics is not compatible with ending plastics in nature,” says Ben Dixon, a former sustainability manager at Royal Dutch Shell and partner at SYSTEMIQ. “That’s the inconvenient truth both studies get to the heart of. We may see more pressures from investors, customers, and a changing of the world underneath the feet of these companies.”

Both projects captured the attention of the plastics industry, which was quick to praise the research, but dismissed the idea of reducing production of virgin plastic as “highly counterproductive and impractical,” in the words of the American Chemistry Council, a trade group for the petrochemical industry. In emailed responses, ExxonMobil and Dow Chemical, two of the world’s leading manufacturers of polyethylene, agreed.

“Reducing production to solve the waste problem will, in turn, aggravate the carbon and climate problem as alternative materials have higher emissions,” Dow said.

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The manufacturing of plastic emits less CO2 and uses less water than for glass or aluminum. Some argue that such accounting doesn’t always factor in all the costs, such as environmental cleanup and weight. Glass manufacturing emits less CO2 per gram, but glass bottles are heavier. And, in the marine world, they say, it’s beside the point: Turtles eat plastic bags, not glass bottles and aluminum cans.

Todd Spitler, an Exxon spokesman, said the company’s focus will be on “increasing plastic recyclability, supporting improvements in plastic waste recovery and minimizing plastic pellet loss from our operations."

The SESYNC study calls for setting global limits on the production of virgin plastic, a recommendation unlikely to be realized. At the last United Nations Environmental Program meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2019, negotiations to pass a resolution calling for phasing out single-use plastic by 2025 and to draft a legally binding treaty on plastic debris ended in a stalemate.

The Pew/SYSTEMIQ study calls for reducing virgin production by 11 percent, arguing there is enough waste plastic that could be recycled and remade into new plastic to satisfy demand. The problem is that virgin plastic—new resin created from natural gas or oil—is so cheap to make that it undermines the economics of the recycling market. It is simply less expensive to manufacture new plastic than to collect, sort, and process disposable plastic into new feedstock. Especially now, with the collapse of oil prices. (Read more on the SYSTEMIQ study here.)

Plastic production to increase by 2050

In fact, production is forecast to more than double by 2050—increasing to 756 million tons anticipated in 2050 from 308 million tons produced in 2018, according to a report published by the American Chemistry Council in 2019. In the United States, $203 billion has been invested in 343 new or expanded chemical plants to produce plastics, according to ACC figures published last February. Production capacity for ethylene and propylene is projected to increase by 33 to 36 percent, according to an estimate by the Center for International Environmental Law.

Keith Christman , the ACC’s managing director of plastics markets, says the demand for plastic products, such as lightweight automobile parts and materials used in home construction, including insulation and water piping, is only going to grow.

“New technologies is the direction that we see the industry going,” he says.

Historically, plastic production has increased almost continuously since the 1950s, from 1.8 million tons in 1950 to 465 million tons in 2018. As of 2017, 7 billion of the 8.8 billion tons produced globally over that whole period have become waste.

The industry attributes future growth to two factors: the increasing global population and demands for more plastic consumer goods, fueled by the increasing buying power of a growing middle class. The UN projects that the world’s population, now about 7.8 billion, will add about two billion more by 2050, primarily in Asia and Africa. Globally, the middle class is anticipated to expand by 400 million households by 2039—and that is where the plastics market growth will occur.

Africa, to cite one example, shows the complications that lie ahead for gaining control of plastic waste in the coming decades. The continent today generates waste at a low rate by global standards, according to a UN report published last year. It also has limited environmental regulations, weak enforcement, and inadequate systems in place to manage waste. But as its population explodes and becomes more urban, and as buying habits change with higher standards of living, sub-Saharan Africa is forecast to become the dominant region producing municipal waste.

“Everyone is going to need to play a role along the whole value chain,” says Guy Bailey , a leading plastics analyst at Wood Mackenzie, a consulting firm specializing in energy, chemicals, mining and other research.

“If you are a recycler, it is difficult to make an investment when oil prices completely destroy the economics of your business. If you are a packing company, you are faced with so many choices of materials, it’s hard to know which to pick. If you are a chemical company, you clearly can see the reputational challenge. They risk losing their social license to operate if things go too far. They want to address those challenges.”

The Alliance to End Plastic Waste, founded last year by 50 industry titans, committed to investing $1.5 billion in creating solutions to improve methods for collecting plastic waste and recycling into new products. So far, it has launched 14 projects, many in Southeast Asia and Africa, including in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Ghana.

Jacob Duer, president and CEO, said the new report “reiterates the necessity and the urgency in addressing the issue and underlines the importance of a paradigm shift.”

As the organization, based in Singapore, matures, he says the number of projects and capital investment will grow. But it opposes reducing virgin plastic production.

Both Duer and Martyn Ticknet, head of the Alliance’s project development, see similarities between tackling plastic waste and global efforts to close the hole in the ozone layer that began in the 1970s. Last year the hole had shrunk to its smallest size on record since its discovery.

“We’ve solved major crises before,” Ticknet says. “It takes some time to get going.”

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essay say no to plastic

Life Without Plastic Is Possible. It’s Just Very Hard.

Going plastic free starts with cloth bags and straws. Suddenly, you’re … making your own toothpaste?

Credit... Adam Amengual for The New York Times

Supported by

Steven Kurutz

By Steven Kurutz

  • Feb. 16, 2019

For Beth Terry, the epiphany came when she read an article about how albatross chicks are being killed by discarded plastics. It was time to banish plastic from her life .

First , she focused on her kitchen and got rid of the shopping bags, microwaveable Stouffer’s macaroni and cheese, Clif energy bars and the prewashed salads in plastic tubs.

Then she turned to her bathroom, where she switched to shampoo bars instead of bottles and made her own hair conditioner from apple cider vinegar. Toothpaste without plastic packaging was exceptionally hard to find, so she started making her own with baking soda.

Sometimes her personal war on plastic created awkward moments. During a vacation to Disneyland in California to run a half-marathon, Ms. Terry and her husband left their reusable cloth bags in the hotel, soon discovering that the local supermarket only had plastic bags. How to carry a bunch of apples, oranges, avocados and melons?

“We just rolled it up in our T-shirts and carried it that way,” said Ms. Terry, 54, recalling how she crab-walked back to the hotel to stay true to her principles. “If I let myself off the hook this time, it would be easier for me to take plastic next time.”

Treating plastic like a drug habit that needs to be kicked is a lifestyle pledge being shared by more and more consumers, horrified by the tens of millions of metric tons of plastic created worldwide each year, much of it in the form of single-use items like straws, that end up in landfills or, worse, the oceans .

As a marketing term, “plastic free” is emerging as the new “no carbs.” Stores that pride themselves on zero plastics have opened in Brooklyn and London , selling items like silicone water bottles, cardboard poop scoopers, biodegradable vibrators and iPhone cases made of flax.

essay say no to plastic

Designers have embraced “plastic free” as a new challenge, whether it’s building a supermarket aisle without plastics or making eco-friendly clothing that does not involve “virgin” plastics. Celebrities including Jeff Bridges and SZA have joined the anti-plastic crusade .

Some Fortune 500 companies, like Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo, want a piece of the action. This summer, those companies will test selling products like Tropicana orange juice in glass bottles, Pantene shampoo in aluminum bottles and other items in refillable nonplastic containers, harking back to the days of the milkman.

“The awareness has exploded,” said Susan Freinkel, a journalist in the Bay Area and the author of “Plastic: A Toxic Love Story .” “The movement to get rid of trivial plastic has taken off. There is a critical mass of consciousness.”

But to exist in the modern world without plastic , however noble a goal, may not actually be possible.

‘Grind Your Own’

If you gathered up all your plastic waste each week, as Ms. Terry once did, you would have a huge mound on the floor. Where to even begin?

“The one thing I try to emphasize to people is to go step by step,” said Ms. Terry, an accountant who lives in Greenbelt, Md., and who is the author of “ Plastic-Free : How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too.” “Don’t try to do everything at once. It’s been a practice of mine to not get overwhelmed by it all.”

That’s easier said than done, because once you wake up to the plastic problem, you see it everywhere: in jars of peanut butter and bags of grapes, in tubes of toothpaste and Tupperware containers, in bottles of Dawn dish soap and Tide laundry detergent, in the wrappers of Doritos chips and the lining of milk cartons.

“I thought I’d be able to find a plastic-free version of all the convenient foods I was consuming,” Ms. Terry said. “I didn’t realize that plastic made those foods possible.”

At the grocery store, you find yourself staring at a 10-foot shelf of yogurt brands, with only one in a glass jar: Oui by Yoplait. But you don’t like Oui by Yoplait. Also, it costs much more. What do you do?

To navigate the consumer minefield, plastic purgers develop mental maps of places where they can shop. It may take months, but they learn where to get milk in a glass bottle, or which health-food store lets you grind your own peanut butter. And rather than see it as a huge inconvenience, they treat living plastic free as a fun game.

“I wake up and think, ‘How am I going to make it through the day without using any single-use plastic?’” said Dianna Cohen, 53, an artist in Santa Monica, Calif., and a founder of Plastic Pollution Coalition, an advocacy group. “Right away the challenge hits you in the bathroom with the toothbrush.”

For her, the answer is often the farmers’ markets, which exist year-round in Southern California. Needless to say, she brings her own bags. “I’m a big fan of baskets,” Ms. Cohen said. “I bring baskets and canvas bags to put vegetables in. I will bring my own glass jam jars.”

Like many who aim to live plastic free, Ms. Cohen never leaves home without her eco-survival kit, which includes a steel cup, a set of bamboo utensils or metal spork, two stainless-steel straws and a cloth bag. To her, it’s totally worth the extra minutes spent in interactions with shops and clerks, and the time it takes to ready herself before leaving the house. “I have to be very thoughtful in advance,” she said.

Plastic purgers need to rearrange their lives to avoid the offending material. If a restaurant serves food only on plastic plates, they won’t eat there. Fast food? Most wrappers contain plastic. Smoothies from a juice bar? Unless they put the smoothie in a stainless-steel to-go cup, move on, or make your own at home. Bread? Buy it from a local bakery to avoid fresh-seal bags.

But there are certain situations where plastics are unavoidable. Try having a medical procedure without using a plastic syringe or an intravenous drip bag. Plastic water bottles can be indispensable after natural disasters.

Despite their best efforts, the purgers all say they can’t totally banish plastic from their lives. For Ms. Cohen, it’s a favorite hairbrush she has had for decades. And Ms. Terry confronts the limits of her plastic ban each time she visits the pharmacy, where no pharmacist would put medicine in a Mason jar.

“It’s a daily challenge,” Ms. Cohen said. “But I think it’s becoming easier. It’s really just learning new behavior.”

Pig-Hair Toothbrushes

Going plastic free is also easier these days because there’s more awareness and alternatives. Stores now sell dental floss made of silk, wooden toothbrushes with pig-hair bristles, stainless-steel ice cube trays, food wrappers made with beeswax coated cotton, and other nonplastic versions of household items.

Jay Sinha and Chantal Plamondon, who live in Wakefield, Quebec, started the store Life Without Plastic in 2006, a few years after their son was born. They wanted to avoid exposing him to bisphenol A , found in many baby bottles, but they had trouble finding a safer alternative. When Ms. Plamondon tracked down a glass bottle, it was one of the first items they sold.

Since then, the site and its customers base have evolved. “It was more the mother crowd before, but in the past few years, it’s about plastic pollution, the oceans,” Ms. Plamondon said. “Recently we noticed more millennials shopping the site.”

One of those younger converts is Tessa Carleton, 24, who makes and sells handmade goods like macramé in rural Quebec. After a conversation with an environmentalist friend four years ago, Ms. Carleton donated or gave away the shampoo bottles, nail polish remover and Ziploc bags. And she is still purging.

“It was a long process,” Ms. Carleton said. “I still don’t think it’s over.”

The farmhouse she shares with her husband, Jacob, feels like a 75-year-old time capsule. In addition to raising pigs and chickens for food, they make their own deodorant, lip balm and body moisturizer. And almost everything, like the hemp shower curtain she bought from Life Without Plastic , is made of natural materials in subdued colors with no branding. It’s domestic life before the Plastic Age.

Still, some wonder whether buying metal ice-cube trays is just another example of conscious consumerism. Buying a four-pack of metal straws at Urban Outfitters can be a kind of trendy virtue signaling. It offers a way to feel good without examining one’s larger environmental impact (like the energy required to ship glass or metal, both heavier than plastic).

But those committed to living plastic free say that the small steps add up and make an impact.

“Given that single-use disposable plastics are at the heart of the plastic pollution problem, if you do these simple things, you could potentially reduce your plastic consumption by 80 percent or maybe even more,” said Mr. Sinha, who wrote a guide to avoiding plastics with Ms. Plamondon.

Nevertheless, it is usually more expensive to buy stainless-steel or wood items instead of plastic ones, or fresh foods instead of packaged ones. And it can be difficult to avoid plastic in poorer communities. Not everyone has access to year-round farmers’ markets, or the means to shop at them. (According to U.S.D.A. data, as of early February, 2019, more than 3200 farmer’s markets in the U.S. are authorized to accept food stamps. )

Kristal Ambrose, 29, an environmental scientist who founded the Bahamas Plastic Movement, an advocacy group, faces that challenge daily. Much of what is sold on the island nation is imported and shipped in plastic.

“I avoid plastic in areas where I can control,” said Ms. Ambrose, who carries bamboo cutlery and a reusable bottle with her at all times. “For me, not using a plastic bag means so much more. But the mother who’s juggling work, kids, other things — their priorities are different.”

Part of her mission is to show that you don’t need to be rich to avoid plastic. “Sometimes people can’t afford a bamboo kit, but you can take a fork from home,” Ms. Ambrose said. “Even an old pasta sauce jar can be made into a reusable item.”

Steven Kurutz joined The Times in 2011 and wrote for the City and Home sections before joining Style. He was previously a reporter at The Wall Street Journal and Details. More about Steven Kurutz

Unpacking the Plastic Problem

It’s in our clothes, phones and sunscreen. but also, increasingly, in marine food chains and immense garbage patches in the oceans. how do we fix this.

Recycling options are limited for personal medical devices  like inhalers and EpiPens, which are made from high-quality plastic. Some companies are trying to change that .

Here’s what scientists know so far about the health effects of nanoplastics, and what you can do to reduce your exposure .

As more consumers try to cut down on plastic waste, start-ups and big brands are hoping to usher in a new age of refillable household cleaners .

Plastic waste is everywhere, and today’s recycling systems fall far short of fixing the global mess . Here’s why, and what needs to change .

Plastic is all around us, despite its adverse effects on the planet. In a 24-hour experiment, this journalist tried to go plastic free .

Want to cut down on your plastic  use? Here are nine steps  to get you started.

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Question and Answer forum for K12 Students

Paragraph Say No To Plastic Bags Essay

Paragraph Say No To Plastic Bags Essay: Why And How To Make The Switch

Paragraph Say No To Plastic Bags Essay: Plastic bags are everywhere. They are used to carry groceries, clothes, and other items from stores to homes across the world. However, this convenience comes at a cost. Plastic bags are not biodegradable and contribute to environmental pollution, endangering marine life and the planet. As such, it is imperative to make the switch to eco-friendly alternatives. In this article, we will explore why and how to say no to plastic bags.

In this blog, we include the Paragraph Say No To Plastic Bags Essay, in 100, 200, 250, and 300 words. Also cover the Paragraph Say No To Plastic Bags Essay belonging to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and up to the 12th class. You can read more essays in 10 lines, and Essay Writing about sports, events, occasions, festivals, etc… Paragraph Say No To Plastic Bags Essay is also available in different languages.

The Negative Impact Of Plastic Bags

Plastic bags are a significant contributor to environmental pollution. The statistics are staggering. According to a report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), over 380 billion plastic bags are used in the United States every year. Of these, only a small fraction is recycled, while the rest end up in landfills or as litter. Plastic bags take up to 1,000 years to degrade, releasing harmful chemicals into the soil and water.

The environmental consequences of plastic bags are dire. Marine life, in particular, is adversely affected by plastic waste. Plastic bags, once in the ocean, pose a serious threat to sea turtles, whales, dolphins, and other marine animals that mistake them for food. The bags block the digestive tract, leading to malnutrition and death. Additionally, plastic bags that end up in landfills contribute to the release of greenhouse gases, which are a leading cause of climate change.

Alternatives To Plastic Bags

The good news is that there are many alternatives to plastic bags. Reusable bags are one of the most popular options. These bags are made from durable materials such as cotton, jute, canvas, or nylon and can be used multiple times. Biodegradable bags, made from materials like paper or plant-based plastics, are another eco-friendly option. These bags break down more quickly in landfills, reducing the impact on the environment. Other alternatives include backpacks, totes, and baskets.

Benefits Of Saying No To Plastic Bags

There are many benefits to saying no to plastic bags. For one, it is a simple way to reduce waste and preserve the environment. It is estimated that if everyone in the United States used reusable bags instead of plastic bags, we could save over 100 billion plastic bags each year. Additionally, reusable bags are more durable and can be used for years, saving money in the long run.

Benefits Of Saying No To Plastic Bags

Saying no to plastic bags also has social benefits. It is a tangible way to contribute to a sustainable future and raise awareness about environmental issues. Many retailers offer incentives for using reusable bags, such as discounts or loyalty points. By making the switch to eco-friendly alternatives, we can join the movement toward reducing plastic waste and creating a better world for future generations.

Making The Switch To Eco-Friendly Bags

Making the switch to eco-friendly bags is easier than you might think. Start by investing in a few reusable bags. Many stores sell them at a low cost, and they are available in various sizes and styles to suit your needs. Keep them in your car or bag, so they are always on hand when you need them. You can also use biodegradable bags or other eco-friendly alternatives when reusable bags are not practical.

Overcoming common obstacles, such as forgetfulness or convenience, is key to making the switch to eco-friendly bags. Start small and gradually incorporate the use of reusable bags into your daily routine. Remember to take them with you when you go shopping and use them whenever possible. With time, using eco-friendly bags will become second nature, and you will wonder how you ever lived without them.

In conclusion, saying no to plastic bags is a simple yet effective way to reduce waste and preserve the environment. By making the switch to eco-friendly alternatives, we can contribute to a sustainable future and raise awareness. The harmful effects of plastic bags on the environment cannot be ignored.

By saying no to plastic bags and adopting eco-friendly alternatives, we can reduce pollution, save wildlife, and protect our planet for future generations. It is our responsibility to make a conscious effort to reduce our plastic consumption and make sustainable choices. By taking small steps towards a plastic-free lifestyle, we can make a significant impact and create a cleaner, healthier planet.

Read More: Essay Writing

FAQs On Paragraph Say No To Plastic Bags Essay

Question 1. How do you write a paragraph on Say No to plastic?

Answer: To write a paragraph on Say No to Plastic, you can follow these steps:

  • Introduction: Begin by introducing the topic and the issue of plastic pollution, highlighting the harm caused by single-use plastics on the environment.
  • Problems caused by plastic: Discuss the problems caused by plastic, such as its non-biodegradability, impact on wildlife, and contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Alternatives to plastic: Offer alternatives to plastic, such as reusable bags, bottles, and containers, as well as natural materials like cloth, paper, and glass.
  • Call to action: Encourage the reader to join the movement to reduce plastic use and advocate for sustainable alternatives, emphasizing the importance of individual actions in reducing plastic pollution.

Example paragraph: Say No to Plastic! Plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental problems of our time, with single-use plastics causing immense harm to wildlife and ecosystems. Plastics take hundreds of years to decompose and release toxic chemicals into the environment, contributing to climate change and harming marine life. To reduce our plastic use, we can choose to carry reusable bags, water bottles, and containers, as well as opt for natural materials like cloth, paper, and glass. By saying no to plastic and advocating for sustainable alternatives, we can make a significant impact on the health of our planet.

How do you write a paragraph on Say No to plastic

Question 2. Why say no to plastic essays?

Answer: To answer the question “Why say no to plastic essay?” you can use the following paragraph:

Single-use plastics are one of the biggest contributors to pollution in our oceans and landfills. Not only do they take hundreds of years to decompose, but they also harm marine life and release toxic chemicals into the environment. Saying no to plastic means reducing our carbon footprint, protecting wildlife, and promoting sustainability. By adopting more eco-friendly alternatives, we can make a positive impact on the environment and ensure a healthier future for generations to come.

Question 3. What is say no to plastic bags?

Answer: Say no to plastic bags is a campaign aimed at reducing the use of single-use plastic bags. These bags take hundreds of years to decompose and are harmful to the environment and wildlife. By choosing to use reusable bags made of cloth, paper, or other eco-friendly materials, we can reduce our plastic consumption and contribute to a more sustainable future. Joining the say no to plastic bags movement means taking a small step towards protecting our planet and preserving its natural resources.

Question 4. Why plastic is banned 10 points?

Answer: Here are 10 reasons why plastic is banned:

  • Non-biodegradability: Plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose, leading to the accumulation of plastic waste in landfills, oceans, and other natural environments.
  • Harmful to wildlife: Marine animals, birds, and other wildlife often mistake plastic for food, leading to injury, illness, and death.
  • Pollution: Burning plastic releases toxic chemicals into the air, contributing to air pollution and climate change.
  • Clogging drainage systems: Discarded plastic bags and other items can clog drainage systems, leading to floods and other environmental problems.
  • Health concerns: Plastic contains harmful chemicals that can leach into food and water, posing health risks to humans and animals.
  • Resource depletion: The production of plastic requires significant amounts of fossil fuels and other natural resources, contributing to resource depletion and environmental degradation.
  • Aesthetics: Plastic litter can be unsightly and detract from the beauty of natural environments.
  • Financial costs: The management and disposal of plastic waste can be costly for governments and communities.
  • Environmental justice: Plastic pollution often impacts low-income communities and communities of color disproportionately.
  • Alternative solutions: There are many alternative materials and products available that are more environmentally friendly, making it unnecessary to rely on plastic.

Question 5. What are the 3 lines for saying no to plastic?

Answer: Here are three lines for “say no to plastic”:

  • “Refuse single-use plastic and opt for reusable alternatives.”
  • “Reduce your plastic footprint to protect the environment and wildlife.”
  • “Choose sustainable options and say no to plastic to promote a healthier future.”

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Take the Pledge

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Say ‘No’ To Single-Use Plastic

Refusing single-use plastic in your daily life can be as simple as saying, “No plastic straw, please,” or bringing your own reusable water bottle and bag with you when you leave home. These small actions do add up, and send a message to companies and the world that you don’t want all this plastic.

essay say no to plastic

REFUSE single-use plastic whenever and wherever possible. Choose items that are not packaged in plastic, and carry your own reusable bags, containers, and utensils. Say ‘No plastic straw, please.’

essay say no to plastic

REUSE durable, non-toxic straws, utensils, to-go containers, bottles, bags, and other everyday items. Choose glass, paper, stainless steel, wood, ceramic, and bamboo over plastic.

essay say no to plastic

REDUCE your plastic footprint. Cut down on your consumption of goods that are made of and packaged in plastic. If it will leave behind plastic pollution, don’t buy it.

essay say no to plastic

RETHINK what you can’t Refuse, Reduce, or Reuse. Pay attention to the entire lifecycle of items you bring into your life, from source to manufacture to distribution to disposal.

essay say no to plastic

Take the pledge, sign a petition, begin your plastic-free journey.

essay say no to plastic

Join our Coalition as an individual, an organization, or a business.

essay say no to plastic

Learn about Plastic Pollution Coalition’s work and impact.

To Stop Plastic Pollution

Plastic use, advantage, disadvantage and waste management

Essay topics covered: How to control plastic pollution, Say no to plastic, Life without plastic, 5 R’s of waste management, advantages, and disadvantages of plastic, Initiatives to reduce plastic waste. Plastic is taking a toll on our life. How to dispose of plastic is a serious matter of discussion among scientists and environmentalists. Let’s discuss and try to write a long essay on plastic pollution and try to implement some of the practical ways to get rid of plastic waste intelligently.

Plastic use, advantage, disadvantage and waste management | Essay on Plastic Pollution

Plastic in daily life.

Today, we are living an improved life. Everything is readily available to us. This name that has made possible this availability needs no introduction. Plastic has made our life very easy. It occupies an integral part in our daily life be it in the form of grocery bags, shampoo bottles, moisturiser tubes, chips and biscuit packaging, eye drop bottles, hair clutches, keyrings, shoes, and slippers and even clothes.  But, it is a boon, especially for the packaging industry. But everybody is directing us to say no to plastic. Let’s see how can we do this.

Why is plastic used so much:

Plastic has a wonderful quality which creates its demand in almost every industry. It is its ability to be moulded into any shape. After heating palettes to a certain temperature, it can take the shape of the required material. From spoons to submarines everything is made up of plastic.

Advantages of Plastic

  •  protects vulnerable products from damage by humidity, microorganisms, insects, and sunlight.
  • preserves products for a longer time period.
  •  spillages are avoided for liquid products like milk and beverages
  • Non-local products are made easily available everywhere

Disadvantage Of Plastic

As they say, “every coin has two sides”. Plastic too has one major problem. It has put the man in a comfort zone for the time period he uses these articles. The real problem starts when its usage time is over, that is, the problem of getting rid of the waste material of plastic made items. It causes plastic pollution.

Plastic does not decompose

Unlike fruit waste, it does not decompose naturally. What does that mean? This means when we throw fruits and vegetable waste, these are eaten and broken down into smaller particles by microorganisms and the residue gets mixed into the soil. But the microorganisms can’t nibble on plastic. So the waste keep lying in the environment for hundreds of years.

Ways of Plastic Pollution

  • Polythene bags litter everywhere on the roads spoiling the beauty of the place. Moreover, it can choke drains leading to flood-like situations.
  • Toxic chemicals leach out of polythene bags and are found in the blood and tissues of humans and are linked to various ailments in human beings.
  • Sometimes polythene wrappers are eaten by animals in the disguise of food which can be life-threatening.
  • The giant amount of disposable waste is the biggest problem for the world.
  • Disposable water bottles are the main cause of sea pollution. It has posed a survival issue for sea animals.

Due to these problems, the governments of various countries are advocating the idea of banning plastic. Is this dream practically possible? Can we imagine a totally plastic-free life?

What will happen without plastic:

  • Packaging saves food from spoiling. Thus, it increases the shelf life of perishable food items. It saves a lot of food from going to waste.
  • Without packaging, it is possible that a wide range of products that people need to start their morning do not reach them.
  • The digital world will come to an end because our smartphones, tabs, and laptops use a huge amount of plastic components.
  • We can’t say no to plastic. We are addicted to it to such an extent that we can’t boycott plastic from our life.

‘Say no to plastic’ slogans alone won’t work. The need of the hour is to find solutions for modern life vis-a-vis plastic.

Follow The 5 R Principle of Waste Management

Refuse Inculcate the habit of saying no to polythene bags and disposable spoons and straws. Shopkeepers must not give carry bags with products that are already wrapped by some sort of packagings like bread and milk. People should be insisted to carry cloth or jute bags while leaving for shopping.

Companies should use substitutes for plastic.

Do not waste food.

Bio-Plastic can be used whenever possible.

Reuse Use the grocery bags multiple times before throwing them. Use the same disposable bottle to refill from water coolers. Re-purpose It means converting plastic waste into useful things for example: making scenery from ocean waste; making a boat out of thrown water bottles. Recycle This part should come into action only after the previous 4 have done their job because organisations need money and energy to convert the recyclable waste material into useful products. We can take inspiration from the following. One small step at an individual level can make a huge difference. So, everyone must try to add some contribution towards saving the environment.

Some people and organisations who have taken initiative to reduce Plastic Waste are as follows:

PepsiCo India in partnership with Exnora , an environmental NGO has already reduced nearly 35000 tons of household garbage into organic manure that would have otherwise filled the landfills. Save Himalaya Campaign is an initiative by the Indian Environmental Society to safeguard and sustain the Himalayan Ecosystem. Adidas, a leading name in shoe manufacturing, is collecting and reusing waste plastic from oceans with the help of Parley for the oceans and making shoes and sportswear by recycling this waste. Adidas is trying to make a difference for a sustainable future. Watch Here

Since 2003, the small town of Kamikatsu, Japan  has worked to become a zero-waste community. They are rigorously composting, reusing, and recycling their materials, and are close to the goal. As of 2015, only 20% of their garbage goes into their local landfills. We are blaming each other for this huge pile of waste. But, the need of the hour is to work together to find solutions for this problem. We may live on different landmasses but we do share the same planet. It is our duty to save it from pollution by saying ”no’ to plastic.

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Student Essays

Essay on Say No to Plastic | 10 Lines & Short Essay for Children

Plastic use is very harmful for our environment. There is strong need we should leave plastic. Say No to Plastic should be our national preference. In order to popularize the concept of plastic free society we needed to take strong measures.

The following short & long essay on Say no to Plastics, Plastic use, importance, importance in our daily life etc. This essay is helpful for children & students of Ukg class 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10th level students in 100,120,150,200,300 plus words short & long essay for students.

Essay on Say No to Plastic | Plastic Ban, 10 Lines & More Sentences For Students

Plastic is a non-biodegradable material which cannot be decomposed. Unfortunately, now it has become an essential and constant element in our lives.

Essay on Say no to Plastic

The irony is that even after knowing the harmful effects of plastic, people are using it on regular basis. It is a threat to living things and environment.

Therefore, essential steps should be taken to reduce its consumption and lessen its harmful impacts on environment.

Related Essay: Essay on Water Crisis & Solution

Effects of Plastics on Environment

Now a days, we are surrounded with plastic. It is used to pack or cover everything. Though it seems easy to carry items in a plastic bag but throwing plastic in garbage after its usage is extremely harmful as it is non-degradable.

Every type or quality of plastic is injurious to health. The chemicals used in plastic are resistant to degradation, that is why, it is difficult to get rid of it. Even if we burn it, then it will release harmful chemical particles in air which can cause air pollution.

Main disadvantage of plastic is that it cannot be decomposed. It can neither melt in water nor decompose in soil, that is why a plastic bottle or bag can remain in a land for hundreds of years.

The plastic that has been in environment for all these years converts into micro plastics. These micro-plastics are consumed by animals.

These animals are consumed by larger animals and through consumption of these animals, the particles enter the bodies of human beings. This increases the risk of cancer in humans.

Plastic is also the main reason of soil infertility. Since its non-degradable so it mixes with soil and does not allow water to pass through. Moreover, plastic is also a threat to marine life.

Our oceans are filled with plastic junk which is affecting marine life dangerously. Marine animals consume this plastic and it gets stuck in their throat. Moreover, the consumption of plastic is also affecting the physiological structure of these animals.

People also heat food in microwave in plastic boxes which causes release of harmful toxins which get mixed in food. When they eat this food, it increases their risk of getting many diseases like cardiac problems, cancer and asthma.

Unfortunately, people are okay with this situation. They do not care as long as their houses are clean. They throw wrappers and plastic bags on streets for sweepers to clean their mess.

If sweepers lack somewhere in their duty then all people do is sit and complain about how government is not making the city clean. Due to this irresponsible behavior, drains get filled with junked plastic and get clogged.

Steps; How to Stop Plastic Use

Plastic pollution is extremely dangerous for environment. Therefore, it is high time to take this issue seriously and take essential steps to fight against it. Following are some ways to replace the use of plastic:

  • Instead of plastic bags, we should promote the use of paper bags. We can also put a basket in our car into which we can fill our shopped items. These paper bags are so easy to make at home.
  • It is our moral duty that if we find any plastic litter in our streets then we should throw it in the dustbins so that it does not get eaten by stray animals.
  • Public awareness is very important to educate the people about the harmful effects of plastic. Government should also take strict actions to ban the production and use of plastic bags.

This is our country and it is our responsibility to take care of the mess which is a threat to this country. If we prevent the use of plastic in our daily life like a responsible person then there will less junk floating in our country.

2 thoughts on “Essay on Say No to Plastic | 10 Lines & Short Essay for Children”

It’s kind of a little short essay for like 678 classes it should be like 20 lines

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Single Use Plastic Essay

Plastics that are single-use or disposable are only used once before being discarded or recycled. These products include, for instance, plastic bottles, straws, coffee stirrers, soft drink and water bottles, and the bulk of food packaging. Every year, around 300 million tonnes of plastic are manufactured, with half of it being discarded. Here are a few sample essays on single use plastics.

100 Words Essay on Single Use Plastic

200 words essay on single use plastic, 500 words essay on single use plastic.

Single Use Plastic Essay

Single-use plastic is a serious environmental issue that has become increasingly prevalent in recent years . Not only does it contribute to the growing problem of plastic waste, but it also has a negative impact on wildlife, the environment, and the planet as a whole. The production of single-use plastic requires significant amounts of fossil fuels, releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and contributing to climate change. Moreover, when discarded, single-use plastic can take hundreds of years to decompose, leading to the buildup of plastic waste in landfills and the ocean.

Plastic waste can harm wildlife, such as birds, fish, and marine mammals that mistake it for food or become entangled in it, and also release harmful chemicals into the environment, polluting soil, water, and air. To mitigate the impact of single-use plastic on the environment, it is crucial that we all take steps to reduce its use and embrace more sustainable alternatives.

Plastic is a versatile and widely used material that has become an integral part of our daily lives. However, with the increasing production and use of plastic, the issue of plastic waste and its impact on the environment has become a growing concern. One of the main culprits is single-use plastic, which refers to plastic items that are used only once before being discarded.

Single-use plastic items include plastic bags, water bottles, straws, utensils, and packaging materials . These items are convenient and often seen as necessary for modern life, but they contribute significantly to plastic waste and its impact on the environment. Once discarded, single-use plastic can take hundreds of years to decompose, leading to the buildup of plastic waste in landfills and the ocean.

The effects of single-use plastic on the environment are far-reaching and potentially devastating. Plastic waste also releases harmful chemicals into the environment, polluting soil, water, and air. In addition, the production of plastic requires significant amounts of fossil fuels, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

To address the issue of single-use plastic, individuals, governments, and businesses must work together to reduce its use and promote more sustainable alternatives. One solution is to switch to reusable items, such as reusable bags, water bottles, and utensils, reducing the need for single-use plastic. Governments can also implement policies to reduce the production and use of single-use plastic, such as taxes on plastic bags and bans on single-use plastic items.

Plastic has become an integral part of our daily lives, but the growing production and use of plastic has also led to an increase in plastic waste and its impact on the environment. One of the biggest contributors to this problem is single-use plastic, which refers to plastic items that are used only once before being discarded.

Single-use plastic items, such as plastic bags, water bottles, straws, utensils, and packaging materials, are convenient and often seen as necessary, but their impact on the environment cannot be ignored . When discarded, single-use plastic can take hundreds of years to decompose, leading to the buildup of plastic waste in landfills and the ocean.

Real-life examples of the impact of single-use plastic on the environment are numerous and concerning. For instance, plastic waste has been found in the stomachs of dead marine animals, such as whales, turtles, and dolphins . In 2018, a dead whale washed up on a beach in Indonesia with nearly 13 pounds of plastic waste in its stomach, including 115 plastic cups, four plastic bottles, and 25 plastic bags.

My Experience

As a frequent traveler, I have seen first-hand the harmful impact of single-use plastic on the environment. On a trip to a small island in the Caribbean, I was struck by the amount of plastic waste on the beach and in the ocean. I remember walking along the shore and seeing plastic bottles, bags, and packaging materials washed up on the sand, mixed in with shells and other natural debris.

One day, while snorkeling, I encountered a sea turtle that was entangled in a plastic bag. It was a heart-wrenching sight, as the turtle struggled to free itself from the plastic that was restricting its movement. I felt helpless, knowing that this was just one example of the harm that single-use plastic was causing to marine life.

The impact of single-use plastic on the environment is not limited to just marine life, but also affects the air, soil, and water. The production of single-use plastic requires significant amounts of fossil fuels, releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and contributing to climate change. Furthermore, plastic waste can release harmful chemicals into the environment, polluting soil, water, and air.

I left that trip with a newfound appreciation for the need to reduce our use of single-use plastic. I made a personal commitment to reduce my own use of single-use plastic by bringing my own reusable bags, water bottles, and utensils with me when I travel. I encourage others to do the same and support initiatives to reduce the production and use of single-use plastic. By working together, we can reduce the harm caused by single-use plastic and protect the environment for future generations.

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How To Write An Essay On Plastic Ban In 10 Lines, Short And Long Form

Shraddha Mishra

Key Points To Remember When Writing An Essay On Plastic Ban For Lower Primary Classes

10 lines on plastic ban for children, short essay on plastic ban in english for kids, long essay on plastic ban for children, what will your child learn from the plastic ban essay.

Essay writing is integral to all students’ school curriculum, including debates and speeches. An essay on plastic ban for classes 1, 2 and 3 teaches kids to gain awareness of the dangerous effects of environmental pollution caused by plastic and how it contributes to global climate change. Plastic pollution is disastrous for both humans and marine animals. Simply banning the use of plastic is not enough. Humans must alter their ways, follow the law, and treat mother nature kindly. Here are some crucial points on plastic pollution and sustainable practices that kids can incorporate in their essays, speeches, and, most importantly, in their ways of living.

Essay writing is a creative expression that needs proper research and practice for quality output. Here are some tips to remember while writing an essay on the ban of plastic for lower primary classes.

  • The essay should have an introduction, body and conclusion.
  • Gather relevant information on the topic and divide the essay into different paragraphs.
  • Use simple language and avoid spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors.
  • The essay must have a clear line of argument.

The art of essay writing helps develop writing skills, vocabulary, and a definitive writing style. Here is an essay for classes 1 and 2 that can create positive curiosity among children and help to perfect future assignments.

  • Widespread use of plastic causes severe illness for humans apart from environmental pollution.
  • Plastic is not a natural element and is produced with the use of chemicals.
  • Plastic decomposition is a slow process, so the waste remains on Earth for many years.
  • Plastic waste released into water bodies causes immense water pollution.
  • Plastic bags disposed of carelessly cause clogged drains and sewage lines.
  • We should switch to reusable, eco-friendly, and sustainable alternatives to plastic.
  • Waste plastic releases chemicals that enter the soil, making it infertile.
  • The disposal of plastic indiscriminately will ruin our planet entirely.
  • Banning plastic bags or levying taxes by the government can keep our environment safe.
  • The Indian government has issued guidelines to states to ban single-use plastic items from July 1, 2022.

An essay on the Plastic ban is essential to every kid’s learning. Here is a short essay for class 1, 2 and 3 that can educate children on better use and waste management of plastic products.

Plastic bags have gained widespread popularity as they are important industrially and are very cheap. However, they are non-biodegradable and take a long time to break into small particles. Only a few plastic bags are recyclable, and they create environmental pollution. Even the energy used for plastic production negatively affects our environment. The burning of plastic bags emits gas and smoke that are immensely toxic. When plastics found in the garbage are consumed by animals and sea creatures, it results in the death and extinction of these species. These bags can even jam the sewage lines if not disposed of away properly. Preservation of food in plastic bags can not only intoxicate it but causes fatal diseases like cancer. Even doctors advise us not to regularly drink hot beverages in plastic glasses and polythene, which may affect our health. Plastic bags strewn all over the land causes a decline in soil fertility and productivity. Plastic waste also affects marine life and causes an imbalance in biodiversity. We can find plastic waste everywhere, and it causes severe damage to nature. Recycling plastic bags is a very complicated, lengthy, and costly process, but it is possible to reduce the harm to mother nature by reusing plastic objects instead of throwing them after single use or switch to sustainable materials. Understanding the same, the Indian government has issued guidelines to states to ban single-use plastic items from July 1, 2022.

An essay for class 3 helps to evaluate a student’s research, analytical, and writing skills. Here is a long essay on plastic ban in English for kids that would encourage them to appreciate nature and ways to protect it.

Plastic bags are most convenient to use when shopping, either for groceries or daily provisions. Being lightweight, easy to carry, and readily available in the market, they have become an essential part of everyday life. However, this convenience of using them comes at a very high cost that may affect the environment and our human health negatively. Littering by indiscriminate use of plastics can cause significant damage to our environment. It threatens our natural resources such as water, trees, and crops. As plastics get defragmented into small pieces, they get easily swept away into our soil and end up in oceans, then consumed by wildlife and marine life. Thereby, the number of animals and marine life reduces or becomes extinct. Approximately 46,000-1,000,000 fragments of plastics can be seen floating within every square mile of the oceans. The use of 1 trillion non-biodegradable plastic bags worldwide and the burning of plastic bags are damaging our earth. When these plastic bags are burned, they release toxic gases into the atmosphere, creating air pollution. Several cities around the world have banned the usage of plastic bags, while some have implemented legal procedures against the use of plastic bags. Countries like China, Bangladesh, and India have banned using and selling polythene bags with a thickness of fewer than 50 microns. Plastics are generally made from non-renewable fossil fuel-based resources like polypropylene (material made from petroleum and natural gas). With the extraction and production, greenhouse gases are created that contribute to global warming and climate change.

According to Green Tumble reports, almost 35% of turtles die by ingesting plastic. ABC News reports found 25 bags in the stomach of a crocodile in Australia. According to a National Geographic report, nearly 90% of seabirds consume discarded plastic. We all must collectively contribute to making the plastic ban a success. Only when an educated lot of society takes it up as their responsibility to support the campaign against plastic ban we can save the environment.

Problems Caused By Plastic and Plastic Bags

  • Death Of Animals – Many animals ingest plastic bags every year. They die due to choking or other issues.
  • Toxic Chemicals – Plastic bags contain chemicals including BPA that cause harmful diseases in humans like ulcers, obesity, and asthma.
  • Clogging Of Drains – The drainage system is often blocked by the accumulation of plastics as
  • Groundwater Pollution – Chemicals mixed into the groundwater reservoirs enter our bodies through the plants and drinking water.

What You Can Use Instead of Plastic

There are many eco-friendly alternatives to plastic bags like recycled paper bags, jute bags, reusable cotton tote bags, and glass bottles.

How Can We Minimise The Use of Plastic?

Plastic bags contribute to plastic pollution in our environment. Here are some ways to minimise the use of plastics.

  • Many Indian states need to restrict the utilisation of plastics as directed by the government of India
  • By following stricter measures and creating general awareness, we can reduce the use of plastics.
  • More fines must be imposed on retailers for selling plastic bags.
  • The public should be fined for carrying plastic bags.

Plastic Ban In India

The Indian government has banned plastics to save our beautiful mother earth. At first, Sikkim went completely plastic-free, and then Himachal Pradesh became the first state to restrict plastic and polythene bag in 2009. In 2016, Karnataka banned all single-use plastic items, while Delhi banned all disposable plastic items in 2017. Later, Bihar, Tamilnadu, Odisha, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Uttarakhand implemented the ban in 2019. The Indian government has issued guidelines to states to ban single-use plastic items from July 1, 2022.

Your child will understand why they should not use plastic and why the plastic ban is important for our environment. They will also get aware of various ways to stop plastic usage.

Our throw-away culture causes plastic pollution in oceans and impacts biodiversity. We should find alternative and sustainable solutions to make our planet plastic-free for a better tomorrow.

Essay On Plastic Pollution for Kids How to Write An Essay On Land Pollution for Children Essay on Environmental Pollution for Lower Primary Classes

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essay say no to plastic

Say No To Single-Use Plastics

  • July 22, 2021
  • Muntaha Abdullah Al Qasmi

Plastic pollution is one of the most critical environmental issues these days. It is the accumulation of plastic materials (like grocery bags, drink bottles, straws, food wrappers, plastic packaging, and microbeads) in the marine and wild environments. This accumulation adversely impacts both humans and wildlife. 1. Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes from coastal nations into the oceans 1. This is like setting five garbage bags full of trash on every foot of coastline around the world 2. The latest studies indicated that microplastics are being eaten by animals 2 . These microplastics could negatively impact their lives and human health because they can be stored in the animals’ tissues and cells for months. Scientists believe that the amount of plastic in the ocean might triple by 2050 3 . Learn why microplastic pollution prevention matters and the most effective strategies that can be taken by individuals to decrease plastic waste, and say no to single-use plastic.

Why does single-use plastic pollution matter?

Interesting statistics and facts:

  • The United States is by far the world’s largest generator of plastic waste—it produced about 42 million metric tons of the waste (46 million U.S. tons) in 2016 4 .
  • The U.S. ranks as high as third among coastal nations for contributing litter, illegally dumping trash and other mismanaged waste to it’s shorelines 4 .
  • The average American uses and throws away 110 pounds, or roughly 50 kilograms, of single-use plastic every year 5 .
  • Only about 8% of plastic gets recycled in the United States 5 . Learning how to recycle properly is a key factor in increasing this percentage.
  • Half of all plastics ever manufactured have been made in the last 15 years 2 .
  • Production increased exponentially, from 2.3 million tons in 1950 to 448 million tons by 2015. Production is expected to double by 2050 2 .

Last year, in partnership with SYSTEMQ, a London-based environmental consulting firm, Pew (Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan fact tank) predicted that plastic waste in the marine environment will triple by 2040. Pew suggested the world should act urgently to eliminate plastic use and gain control of trash 6 . According to a study in 2015, scientists found many developing nations with poor waste management 6 . These nations have reported later improvements in waste management and the construction of infrastructure 6 . Asian nations are one of the top five collections of nations that reported more gains. For example, China has reported about a 60% decrease in waste generation and a 51% reduction in inadequately managed waste. These decreases happened due to the rapid construction of incineration plants 6 . In 2016, there were more than half of the 3.91 million metric tons of plastics gathered and exported outside the United States  6 . There were about 88% of the plastics exported to nations lacking adequate resources to properly manage and process them  6 . There were about 1 million metric tons of waste that were estimated by the team; This ended up polluting the marine environment outside the United States  6 .

Want to know how plastic is made? Watch this:

How did single-use plastic come about.

Plastics are made up of fossil fuels that can be over a century old 5 . World War II had produced and developed thousands of new plastic products 2 . Nowadays, plastic is one of the important things which made the modern age cannot live without it. Plastics revolutionized medicine with life-saving devices, made space travel possible, lightened cars and jets, saved lives with helmets, incubators, and equipment for clean drinking water 2 . Unfortunately, some of these plastic products have a long lifespan when they enter the environment and it can persist for more than hundreds of years 5 .

“If we don’t get the plastic pollution problem in the ocean under control, we threaten to contaminate the entire marine food web, from phytoplankton to whales. And by the time science catches up to this, perhaps definitively concluding that this is problematic, it will be too late. We will not be able to go back. That massive amount of plastic will be embedded in the ocean’s wildlife essentially forever 7 .”

What can we do about single-use plastic pollution?

The best solution to prevent plastic waste from entering rivers and seas is to understand our responsibilities towards our ecosystem 8 . Here are some significant steps people can follow to eliminate single-use plastic:

Here are some steps to follow to say no to single-use plastic:

  • Carry Reusable Shopping Bags.
  • Drink Your Coffee from a Reusable Cup.
  • Avoid Bottled Water.
  • Steer Clear of Plastic Straws.
  • Shop at a Farmers Market.
  • Swap Out Bottles for Bars.
  • Avoid Buying Clothes Made with Plastic.
  • Compost Food Waste.
  • Stop Smoking — or At Least Use a Refillable Lighter.

Let’s join the Plastic Free July organization to reduce our plastic waste to get clean streets, oceans, and beautiful communities: https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/ #plasticfreejuly

Are you looking for plastic-free shops? Here are some shops:

https://www.theplasticfreeshop.co.uk/ https://lifewithoutplastic.com/

  • https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/nature/kids-vs-plastic/article/pollution-1  
  • https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/plastic-pollution  
  • https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/plastic-pollution-huge-problem-not-too-late-to-fix-it  
  • https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/us-plastic-pollution  
  • https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/climate/single-use-plastic.html?searchResultPosition=2  
  • https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/tips-reduce-plastic/  
  • https://ideasforus.org/all-about-microplastics-facts-and-new-research/ ‏
  • https://ideasforus.org/planet-earth-vs-plastic/  

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Speech on Say No To Plastic

Plastic pollution is a global menace that’s choking our earth. Your daily choices can make a big difference. Let’s join hands to say ‘No’ to plastic. By refusing, reducing, and reusing, you can help save our planet.

1-minute Speech on Say No To Plastic

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, we gather here to talk about plastic. Plastic is everywhere. It’s in our homes, our schools, our offices, even in our oceans. It’s hard to imagine life without it. But it’s a problem, a big problem.

Why is it a problem? Plastic does not go away. When we throw it away, it stays there for hundreds of years. It hurts our earth. It hurts the animals who live in the sea. They eat the plastic and fall sick. Many of them die because of this.

What can we do? We can say no to plastic. It’s simple. Don’t use plastic bags when you go shopping. Use a bag made of cloth instead. Don’t use plastic bottles for water. Use a metal or glass one. These are small changes, but they can make a big difference.

By saying no to plastic, we help our earth. We help our animals. We help ourselves. We make our world a better place. We make our future better.

So, let’s say it together. Let’s say no to plastic. Let’s promise to use less plastic every day. Let’s do it for our earth, for our animals, for ourselves.

Also check:

  • Essay on Say No To Plastic

2-minute Speech on Say No To Plastic

Let’s talk about plastic. You see it everywhere, right? In your home, at school, in stores. But do you know it’s not good for us or our planet? Today, we need to understand why we should say no to plastic and what we can do about it.

Plastic seems helpful. It’s light, strong, and lasts a long time. But that’s the problem. It lasts too long. A plastic bag can take up to 1,000 years to break down. That’s longer than your life, my life, or even our grandchildren’s lives. What’s worse, when it does break down, it turns into tiny bits, or ‘microplastics’, which can harm animals and nature.

Imagine you’re a fish. You’re swimming along when you see something that looks like food. You eat it. But it’s not food. It’s plastic. This happens to many fish, birds, and other animals. They can get sick or even die because of plastic. We can’t let this happen.

Our world is full of beautiful places, isn’t it? Mountains, oceans, forests, and fields. But now, too many of these places are full of plastic. It’s like a monster that never goes away. It’s spoiling the beauty of our Earth.

So, what can we do? The answer is simple. Say no to plastic! We can start by using less plastic in our daily lives. For example, carry a cloth bag when you go shopping instead of taking a plastic one. Drink water from a glass or metal bottle, not a plastic one. And if you have toys or things you don’t need anymore, don’t throw them away. Give them to someone who can use them.

Schools can help too. Teachers can teach children about the harm caused by plastic. They can show them how to use less plastic and recycle. Schools can also organize clean-up days when students pick up litter, especially plastic, from parks and beaches.

Companies have a big role to play as well. They can make products that use less plastic. Or even better, use no plastic at all. They can also use recycled plastic to make new things.

Saying no to plastic is not just a slogan. It’s a promise to ourselves, to our children, and to our planet. It’s a step towards a better, healthier, and cleaner world. We all have a part to play. So let’s start today. Let’s say no to plastic!

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Speech On Say No To Plastic [1 to 3 Minutes]

We use plastic in uncountable forms in our daily life. There is no doubt the use of plastic provides us with a great deal of convenience. But this convenience is too costly for the environment, animals and our health. Hence, it is high time to say no to plastic.

In this article, we shared 2 short and long speech examples on the topic “say no to plastic”. These speeches will help students prepare for speech competitions. Also, you will get to know the harmful effects of using plastic-made items.

1 Minute Speech On Say No To Plastic

Hello and welcome all of you gathered here. I am here to present a speech on saying no to plastic.

Plastic is the most used material of current times. We use it in various forms and for various purposes. But careless use of anything is very harmful. The plastic bags, plastic packaging, and plastic bottles we use do not get dumped properly.

These plastic-made items travel here and there on the streets and even reach water bodies. Land animals and aquatic species eat them mistaking their food and suffer from various health problems. Apart from this, plastic is dumped into landfills which causes soil pollution.

In short, the use of plastic is not good for our health, our biodiversity and our environment. In every possible manner, we need to avoid the use of plastic. There are various alternatives that can replace the use of plastic-made items. So, it is time to say no to plastic. Thank You!

1 Minute Speech On Say No To Plastic

Speech On Say No To Plastic For 2 to 3 Minutes

I cordially welcome all of you gathered here. I am here to deliver a speech on saying no to plastic Before I start my speech, I would like to wish you a good day. Also, I want to thank you for having me this valuable opportunity.

Let’s talk about the harmful effects of using plastic. This will inspire all of us to avoid the use of plastic as much as possible.

1. Deterioration of Environment

Plastic is one of the greatest contributors to pollution. Plastic takes around 600 years to completely decompose. Plastic in various forms is dumped into landfills which reduces the fertility of the soil and hence it is a reason for soil pollution.

2. Harmful to animals and Aquatic Creatures

Plastic bags are light in weight. For this reason, they can travel by air far and wide. Animals eat these bags with their food and suffer from various problems. Even some animals die from eating plastic bags. This way the use of plastic is reducing our biodiversity.

3. Harmful to Health

We use plastic bottles to carry water and various drinks. These bottles release chemicals into our food which leads to various health problems. Apart from this, when we order food online, it is mostly packed in plastic bags which becomes toxic and not healthy food .

So, the use of plastic is no better. We need to replace this practice with some alternatives so that we can prevent all of these harmful effects. Let’s talk about some of the ways to say no to plastic.

One . We can use paper bags or reusable cloth bags in place of plastic bags. Two. We can use a stainless bottle for carrying water and other drinks. Three. Use a stainless tiffin to avoid health problems. Four. Avoid ordering food online where you find plastic packaging, it is better to eat healthy homely food.

Five. dump the plastic-made items into the proper place. Also, if you find plastic litter on the streets, make sure to transfer it to dustbins so that animals do not eat it. Six. Spread awareness about the harmful effects of the use of plastic.

To sum it up, there are various ways to say no to plastic. We need to care for our health, our animals and our environment for sustainable development.

This is all I wanted to say. I hope you liked my thoughts. Thank you!

Long Speech On Say No To Plastic

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10 easily ways to say NO to plastic everyday

essay say no to plastic

NO to plastic! Why? Simply because it is one of the most hardly recycling materials, and we use it basically everywhere. If people contaminate the environment with plastic, they generate great damage, especially for the sea and oceans.

Think about it, every year we abandon 8 million plastic garbage in water (as the UNEP leaders tell us). Not only are we responsible for the destruction of underwater habitats but also we’re putting in danger the survival of entire species.

This ‘’garbage vortex’’ has a name, Great Pacific Garbage Patch . This is literally a huge plastic island in the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately, there are many more, smaller than this one, scattered across the waters of our planet.

The problem is serious, just think about the island’s extent. It’s larger than Spain! It’s been formed in the ‘80s and since then, it has caused lots of victims. Fish, turtles, and birds, just to name some examples. If we keep on acting like that, by 2050 there will be more waste than fish in the sea . At least, this is what experts claim.

#BEATPLASTICPOLLUTION: if you can’t reuse it, refuse it!

infographic - say no to plastic

Eliminate plastic, also while traveling

leeave your foot print not your rubbish

We all have to do something concrete to reduce the amount of plastic that is invading our planet. There are many ways to make a contribution and improve the situation. Here are some useful tips:

1. Drink tap water or buy glass bottles

If the tap water taste good and it’s drinkable, you shouldn’t buy liters and liter of water in disposable bottles. Not only could you save up money, but also you’ll produce less plastic waste.

In case you don’t want to drink from your tap, you could buy glass water bottles. They’re easier to reuse and dispose of.

2. Avoid plastic bags

On holiday, don’t carry your things in plastic bags. Instead, take with you cloth and cotton bags , or rigid bags that you can reuse (they are more difficult to split). Alternatively, you can use biodegradable bags.

3. Get rid of single doses

Avoid buying single-dose packaging for your personal care and try not to use those that hotels provide you. Take with you large sizes , which last longer.

4. Travel with your water bottle

filling a water bottle

Traveling, cycling, running ad doing sports require lots of water to drink in order to compensate for the liquids you lose. Instead of buying water bottles every time, get yourself a canteen to fill when you need it.

5. Get yourself a travel kit

Avoid using plastic plates and cutlery and take with you a kit of glasses and dishes. In so doing, you’ll be able to eliminate a large amount of plastic that we usually use when we are outside.

6. Avoid snacks

When you spend the whole day out of home, make sure that you have sack food , as for example a sandwich. In this way, you won’t have to buy packed snacks!

7. Pick up alternative straws

alternative straws - paper straws

If using straws for drinking is a habit, avoid plastic straws and use those made of glass, paper, bamboo or steel. There are many different choices. Besides, these alternatives are often very nice to see, as well as completely ecological.

8. Use fabric napkins and handkerchiefs

The paper handkerchiefs are packed in plastic bags. So use napkins and handkerchiefs from paper or fabric cases, which you can wash and reuse.

9. Buy cardboard or in glass products

Avoid products enclosed in plastic packaging or drinks in disposable bottles. Choose those in glass or cupboard, easier to dispose of.

10. Try with creative recycling!

If you have disposable bottles to throw away, remember that you can always reuse them. You just need a little bit of imagination ! Create games for your children or useful items that otherwise you should buy. For example, you could create nice jars or unique puppets.

reusing plastic with imagination

Do you have any advice? Let us know what you mean by saying no to plastic!

Cover image: plastic bottles, via pixabay.

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From the fifties to today, plastic has become omnipresent, to the point that for some a world without this material has become conceivable. But after having produced about nine billion tons of virgin plastic materials, accumulated in landfills and then dispersed in natural environments, it has gone from being a useful resource to one of the […]

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  • Say No To Plastic RSTV Big Picture

Say No to Plastic: RSTV - Big Picture

Say No to Plastic RSTV – Download PDF Here

Rajya Sabha TV programs like ‘The Big Picture’, ‘In Depth’ and ‘India’s World’ are informative programs that are important for UPSC preparation. In this article, you can read about the discussions held in the ‘Big Picture’ episode on  “Say No to Plastic”  for the  IAS  exam.

  • Guests – Dr Suneel Pandey, Senior Fellow and Director, Environment & Waste Management Division, TERI; Prof. C.K. Varshney, Environmentalist and Former Dean, School of Environment Sciences, JNU; Sandeep Sen, Sr Journalist & Author,
  • Anchor – Frank Rausan Pereira
  • Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to shun single-use plastic and use jute and cloth bags to protect the environment.

Background:

  • Plastic was popularised in the 1960s as a convenient material for everyday use.
  • The problems caused by single use plastics (SUPs) were recognised in 2007
  • United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) had declared the theme for World Environment Day 2018 as ‘ Beat Plastic Pollution’ . It was hosted by India.
  • As a part of the event, the government had announced its intention to phase out single-use plastic by 2022 .
  • Plastic waste has been observed everywhere, from the depths of the oceans to the peaks of Himalayas.
  • Plastic can’t be removed entirely from the planet because it has many advantages as a material for daily use and in specialty applications.
  • Saudi Arabia plans to invest in India to produce more petrochemicals and plastic, slowly transforming India into one of the biggest producers and consumers of plastic.

Issues Caused by Plastic:

  • Regulation of Single Use Plastics (SUPs) is a major problem the world is battling at this point of time.
  • SUPs are used only once and thrown into the environment.
  • Consumers find SUPs such as food packaging (especially in home delivery of food), disposable glasses, straws much more convenient to use.
  • According to the Environment Ministry , about 20,000 tonnes of plastic waste is generated every day in the country, out of which only 13,000-14000 tonnes are collected.
  • Worldwide , the amount of plastic waste collected is only around 16-18% of the total generation.
  • Plastics do not decay in the soil but undergoes wear and tear and disintegrates into micron sized particles ( micro plastics ).
  • Plastics may disappear from the eyes but the invisible micro plastics remain to cause problems.
  • There are no credible estimates about the quantity of micro plastics present in the soil and oceans.
  • In a recent research micro plastics were found in the snow samples collected from the Svalbard islands of the Arctic sea .
  • Uncollected SUPs accumulate in the water bodies and clogs the drains before ultimately reaching the oceans.
  • The North Pacific Garbage Dump/Gyre is an example of accumulation of plastic in the ocean.
  • The garbage gyre churns the plastic waste and produces much more micro plastics.
  • Animals, especially marine organisms often consume micro plastics and eventually die.
  • Further, clogging of drains is a factor responsible for floods
  • Micro plastics may accumulate in the lungs and blood streams and cause severe consequences.
  • Carcinogenic chemicals such as furans and dioxins are released by the burning or pyrolysis of plastic.
  • People often drink hot water in PET bottles and consume harmful components.
  • Collection of used plastics, mostly done in the informal sector , stay away from collecting certain types of waste because of lack of profit . Ex.: Pet bottles fetch a higher price, but straws carry bags, etc. do not.
  • Businesses to business (B2B) transmission of goods involve huge quantities of around 130 types of plastic packaging.
  • Throwing away plastic is everyone’s problem and nobody is willing to take responsibility.
  • It is difficult to reduce the use of plastic since it is cheaper .
  • There is a notion that some plastic is good and others wrong. But, even cloth fabric, earbuds and cigarette butts are harmful, as they may disperse micro plastic fibrils in the air.
  • Industries make us subservient to plastic . If we reduce using it, industry lobby will fund illegitimate studies to prove that plastic is not harmful.

The Real Cost of Plastic:

  • Plastic materials may be cheap but the distributed cost or decentralised cost is very high.
  • The distributed cost or decentralised cost is calculated by considering the environmental, economic and health damages and threats.
  • Fisheries sector may suffer due to the deadly impact of micro plastics in the marine environment and India being a major exporter of marine products should keep its oceans free of plastic, as plastic digested fishes are rejected, as due standards are expected.
  • Since plastics are synthesised from petroleum the cost involves the environmental damage done during the mining, transportation and refining of petroleum.

Way Forward:

  • Customers can ensure the quality of the products since they could see and taste it directly.
  • Segregation, collection and disposal of plastic waste needs to be done in a proper scientific
  • Alternate materials should be mass produced so that they become affordable with the help of economy of scale and large demand .
  • Appropriate funding should be provided for a comprehensive research to identify and quantify the plastic waste and detect the sources .
  • A comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of each type of plastic need to be carried out, considering the environmental and health costs .
  • Start-ups, universities and research centres need to find new ways to recycle plastic such as using it in highways construction , etc.
  • Companies which made huge profit from selling plastics have the liability and moral responsibility to fund research for alternatives.
  • The supply chain of plastic need to be tracked for determining whether they are collected back or not.
  • There should be a consensus based on the fact that plastic is not essential for our survival.
  • Awareness programs need to be expanded and innovative ideas need to be invited from the civil society.

Technological Solutions:

  • The cost for adopting is not too high as well and this is currently practiced on commercial basis in Australia
  • What we need at this moment is opening of opportunities to new start-up companies and using the knowledge of ISRO to make it an adaptable mission
  • Plastic waste can be used as an alternate fuel for co-processing in cement kilns.
  • Reverse vending machine in Bangalore and Karol bagh scraps plastic bottles.

Alternatives:

  • If plastic needs to be banned, affordable alternates need to be promoted.
  • Alternative materials to plastic should be environment-friendly and affordable .
  • Glass bottles, aluminium containers (for milk), cloth and jute bags can be used while shopping.
  • Alternatives made of natural material provide employment opportunities in the cottage industry

Conclusion:

  • Plastic is a miraculous product but it is harmful to the ecosystem as a whole. It is already too late to destroy the existing plastic waste without causing pollution. In addition to that, each type of plastic need to be replaced with an eco-friendly material at the manufacturing level itself.
  • In the past civilizations have survived without plastic so going forward this society can also survive without it but with suitable alternatives infused by upgrading the technology.
  • It is now the right time to say no to plastic.

Read previous RSTV articles here .

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Society May 11, 2024

The sunday essay: a buzzy year.

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My husband is posted overseas for 12 months and I’m armed with an expensive, newfangled vibrator. Will I miss him? 

The Sunday Essay  is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.

A few days after my husband leaves, a new sex toy arrives at the front door. Nestled in its sleek black box, the Share Satisfaction Kama Suction & G-Spot Vibrator looks expensive with its two heads of soft purple silicone and rose gold detailing. The instructions tell me it is waterproof and rechargeable, and an online review says it makes women feel like they don’t need men any more. Perfect.

I rip off the plastic wrapping and rush to my bedroom to take it for a quick test drive. Afterwards, I lie there stunned, waiting for my ragged breathing to return to normal before giving the machine a wipe down and stuffing it guiltily into the back of the wardrobe.

My husband of 13 years is posted overseas for work and we make the difficult decision that the family won’t join him, at least for now. I feel furious and helpless, yet strangely resigned to the situation. We’ve done this before and are still alive to tell the tale. Between our children’s painful sobs and our own salty tears, we say goodbye with a loaded look over little heads and a chaste peck on the cheek.  

Knowing my habit of getting grumpier and grumpier the longer I go between orgasms, my thoughtful husband has a fancy new vibrator couriered to the house to tide me over while he is gone. It’s a lovely idea in theory, but the first time using my new toy is actually quite alarming. 

There’s no time to consult my wank bank or relax into the sensations as the electric dildo takes less than a minute to send me screaming into my pillow. Rather than a lovely post-coital glow, I lie there in shock thinking, What the fuck just happened?! Brought to climax with such Fordist efficiency, it’s like the machine was processing me in the shortest amount of time rather than generating any kind of gratification or pleasure. I feel used and confused, like I have been seduced by a cruel lover who skipped all the foreplay for a “wham, bam, thank you ma’am”. But in this case, the pleasure was all mine. 

I definitely don’t want a repeat performance and plan to chalk this strange encounter up to a meaningless one night stand, but my insatiable appetite has other ideas, and a few weeks later I find myself getting squirmy and uptight again. So, for purely therapeutic stress-release purposes, I decide I should give my new-found friend another go.

Only I never get the opportunity. The itch is there, but so are my kids. Sleeping in my bed. Every. Single. Night. The poor munchkins, devastated by their dad’s departure, cling to me like limpets and can’t seem to sleep in their own rooms. Their constant presence gives me no space to think, no space to cry and most frustratingly, no space to wank. 

essay say no to plastic

I n many ways, life is less complicated with my husband gone: no compromising, no negotiating, no nagging to get off the couch. But it’s hard work solo parenting and I start to miss his rare but adorable smile, his uncanny ability to always play the perfect song for the vibe, and his prowess in both the kitchen and the bedroom. 

Feeling myself getting hornier and hornier, I organise some overnight babysitting with the grandparents. It’s like prepping for date night, only my casanova is a handheld device that won’t be wining and dining me first. 

With the house blissfully empty, I dim the lights, blast Lorde on the record player and down a gin and tonic for courage, before reaching for the purple people-pleaser. Mucking around with the buttons, I find that both the ribbed shaft and clit sucker thingamajiggy have ten settings that get progressively stronger and more chaotic with their throbbing and pulsing. Flicking through them reminds me of trying to find a bearable ringtone on my early 2000s Nokia. The crescendoing brrrr brrrr BRRRR , the syncopated dit-dah-dit-dah dit-dah , the relentless staccato bup-bup-bup-bup-bup-bup are all weird as hell and far too intense for a novice like me. So I stick to the first setting – just a low-key but persistent buzz – and once again find myself almost immediately succumbing to its brutal but effective stimulation.

In my mind, this maniacal machine with its killer moves has the personality of a Bond villain who doesn’t relent when I beg for mercy. I call him Vlad the Vibrator – Mr V for short – and despite my mixed feelings about him, the deep ache in my loins motivates me to seek him out for more high jinks. But I have to be furtive, snatching moments of privacy in the shower or sneaking into another room when the kids are asleep. It’s deranged. And exciting.

After a while, I become more used to Mr V coming on strong and our lovemaking sessions become less of a sprint and more of a middle-distance event. I explore his ripples and curves and become familiar with his rhythms and flows. Finally, I get past the first setting, but only by a notch or two. 

It’s an uncomplicated relationship. Mr V doesn’t make any demands of me, doesn’t infuriate with his strong opinions or keep me awake with his snoring. I bet that if I needed someone to talk to, he’d be a really good listener. Our affair blossoms, and while there is no depth to this relationship – he is all high RPM and low EQ – at least my physical needs are being met. 

I rave about Mr V to anyone who’ll listen; his mad skills whispered about at work, wrapped up in a cute anecdote over dinner, and shouted across the dancefloor at a party. I sound like an infomercial: “Is your love life lacking lustre? Does your partner have trouble locating the clitoris? Reliable orgasms or your money back, guaranteed!” I respond to my own zealous sales pitch by buying Mr V clones for some friends I think could do with some pleasure of their own.

essay say no to plastic

T he longer my husband is away, the less I think about him. I start to forget the way he smells, the way he moves, the way it feels to have him in my orbit. We FaceTime, but the calls are irregular and usually dominated by the kids. Technology doesn’t bridge the distance between us so when we do get to talk, it is all surface fluff and banal practicalities and we can’t seem to connect on any kind of emotional level. I start to wonder if I actually need him at all.

I am, after all, a strong independent woman, working hard at my day job, solo parenting like a boss and running the house smooth as clockwork. I feel liberated and empowered when I take care of stereotypically male chores like pruning the trees, laying ant poison, or fixing a broken door latch. See, I don’t need a man!

Then one night our house gets robbed. The invasion makes me feel vulnerable and I’m gutted to discover among the ransacked mess that Mr V’s charging cable is one of the hundreds of things that have been stolen. I’m too busy filing insurance claims and replacing duvets and kitchen appliances to worry, and besides, I haven’t had to charge him before so he must have good staying power. 

But during a future liaison, tragedy strikes. I’m close to fireworks when Mr V suddenly stops in his tracks: no wind-down, no spluttering last few wiggles, just straight-up dead and unmoving in my hand. Unsatisfied and unhinged, I wail into the darkness and send an SOS text to my husband, who, knowing a cry for help when he hears one, orders me a replacement cable pronto. A few days later it arrives on the doorstep, and a few hours later my lubed-up lover is ready for action. 

I lie back dreamily anticipating the pleasure to follow, but am horrified to discover that at full battery power Mr V is back to being the ruthless maniac of our first few romps. I realise that I hadn’t become used to him at all, he had just been slowly losing steam! 

The honeymoon is over. Everything I thought I loved about Mr V is gone again. I curse his aggressive vibrations, robotic precision and cruel detached efficiency. Yes, I want a happy ending, but I want to travel long meandering roads that eventually lead to the destination. In order for him to become bearable again, I’ll have to run down his battery, but I can’t face putting up with him full throttle in the meantime. 

Meanwhile, my feminist facade starts to crumble. I don’t know how to sharpen the kitchen knives so they get more blunt, the ladder doesn’t reach the light bulbs in the ceiling so the house gets gloomier, and because I know fuck-all about cars, I suspect I am being swindled by my mechanic. I hate to admit it, but I could really use a man right now. 

essay say no to plastic

A s I spend yet another evening alone on the couch, I find myself looking wistfully at the shiny patch on the armrest worn smooth over the years by my husband’s feet and realise that I don’t just need a man, I need my man. But my man is still working on the other side of the world and has no idea when he will be back. 

My little unit of three does experience moments of hilarity and joy, but overall our sense of stability is sliding and everyone’s behaviour is deteriorating. I’m exhausted and snappy, my daughter is a nervous wreck and my son gets increasingly violent, lashing out at his sister and me. I do my best to keep us all sane and safe, but I feel like I’m drowning. 

Bitterly, I wish that my husband’s so-called replacement could materialise into human form to protect me from the flying fists and to comfort me when I cry. But Mr V lies static and useless in his box, and despite desperately needing some stress relief, I no longer have the capacity to take advantage of his only useful function. 

Weeks of hell stretch into months of survival mode, until one day my husband announces he is quitting his job and coming home. A weight instantly lifts from my shoulders, and some sunshine peeks through those ever-present storm clouds. The kids are ecstatic.

Driving to the airport, I feel butterflies in my tummy, the nervous kind. It has been almost a year since my husband left, and I’m worried that our relationship won’t recover from the time apart.  When I see him I let out an involuntary squeal and rush towards him in a clumsy mess of excitement and tears. He is much taller and more handsome than I remember, which makes me hesitate, but as soon as he envelopes me in his big, strong arms, my head fitting neatly under his chin, I know that I am exactly where I belong.

Back home, we fall back into the familiar rhythms of bottom pats and affectionate pisstakes. My husband is funny, gentle and kind, cuddling the kids and whipping us up a delicious dinner. His quiet presence fills every corner of the house, and if I look at things sideways, it almost feels like he never left. He assumes his usual position on the couch, and for once it doesn’t bother me.

That night, we shyly become reacquainted with each other. He jokes that he won’t live up to the performance of Mr V, but he needn’t have worried. The feeling of skin on skin is incredible and his body, so warm and smelling like caramel, makes me melt. I rediscover the smoothness of his inner thigh, the softness of his ear lobe, that dip by his hip bone that I like to squeeze. He covers my back in the sweetest of kisses and eagerly responds to my urges and desires. 

It is slow, sensual and sexy as hell, but best of all, there is laughter and love. And it lasts more than a few minutes.

IMAGES

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    Download PDF. Essay On Say No To Plastic - When plastic was first introduced, it was a fantastic innovation. For the changing lifestyle, they promised convenience and ease, which attracted many to use products made from plastics. Here are 100, 200 and 500 word essays on say no to plastic. When we look around, one thing we always see is plastic.

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    Paragraph on Say No to Plastic; Speech on Say No to Plastic; 250 Words Essay on Say No to Plastic The Plastic Predicament. Plastic, the ubiquitous material that has revolutionized our lives, is now a significant environmental concern. The versatility and convenience of plastic have led to a global over-reliance, creating a colossal waste problem.

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  5. Say No To Plastic: Why And How Explained

    By Aaron Salyer February 20, 2024. Plastic pollution is a problem that the whole world is facing together. We are finding microplastic pieces in our waterways, in the food we eat, and in the water we drink. Collectively, we need to take action and say no to plastic. Plastic waste does not degrade at a sustainable rate.

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    500 Words Essay on Say No Plastic in Our Daily Life Introduction. Plastic, the ubiquitous material of the modern world, has infiltrated every aspect of our daily lives. Yet, the convenience it offers is a double-edged sword, for its environmental impact is profound and long-lasting. This essay explores the importance of saying no to plastic in ...

  7. Plastic Pollution Essay for Students and Children

    500+ Words Essay on Plastic Pollution. Plastic is everywhere nowadays. People are using it endlessly just for their comfort. However, no one realizes how it is harming our planet. We need to become aware of the consequences so that we can stop plastic pollution. Kids should be taught from their childhood to avoid using plastic.

  8. The World's Plastic Pollution Crisis Explained

    Production increased exponentially, from 2.3 million tons in 1950 to 448 million tons by 2015. Production is expected to double by 2050. Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans from coastal nations. That's the equivalent of setting five garbage bags full of trash on every foot of coastline around the world.

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    Firstly, plastic bags are a major source of plastic pollution. As they are non-biodegradable, they take years to decompose. They contribute to a lot of waste which keeps collecting over the years. Plastic takes thousands of years to break down and decompose. It remains in the land which contributes to the rising problem of land pollution.

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    Plastic Pollution Essay: Go through the 500+ Words Essay on Plastic Pollution and know about plastic pollution, how it is generated and the way through which it can be controlled. Then practice and try to write your essay in your own words. ... Refuse - Say no to plastic, particularly single-use plastic, as much as possible.

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    Say No To Plastics - Free Essay Examples and Topic Ideas. The proverb "say no to plastics" is an environmentally-conscious call to action, urging individuals to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics in order to combat pollution and protect our planet. It highlights the detrimental impact of plastic waste on ecosystems, wildlife, and ...

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    Once discarded, single-use plastic can take hundreds of years to decompose, leading to the buildup of plastic waste in landfills and the ocean. The effects of single-use plastic on the environment are far-reaching and potentially devastating. Plastic waste also releases harmful chemicals into the environment, polluting soil, water, and air.

  19. Essay On Plastic Ban in English for Classes 1,2,3 Kids: 10 Lines

    Short Essay On Plastic Ban In English For Kids. An essay on the Plastic ban is essential to every kid's learning. Here is a short essay for class 1, 2 and 3 that can educate children on better use and waste management of plastic products. Plastic bags have gained widespread popularity as they are important industrially and are very cheap.

  20. Say No To Single-Use Plastics

    Say No To Single-Use Plastics. Plastic pollution is one of the most critical environmental issues these days. It is the accumulation of plastic materials (like grocery bags, drink bottles, straws, food wrappers, plastic packaging, and microbeads) in the marine and wild environments. This accumulation adversely impacts both humans and wildlife. 1.

  21. 10 Lines on Say No to Plastic Bags for Students and Children in English

    Set 2 - 10 Lines on Say No to Plastic Bags for School Students. Set 2 is helpful for students of Classes 6, 7 and 8. Plastic bags are hazardous and pollute land, water, and air. Only one out of the 20 plastic bags disposed of getting recycled. Plastic bags are non-biodegradable, and hence pollute the soil they are dumped at.

  22. Speech on Say No To Plastic

    Don't use plastic bottles for water. Use a metal or glass one. These are small changes, but they can make a big difference. By saying no to plastic, we help our earth. We help our animals. We help ourselves. We make our world a better place. We make our future better. So, let's say it together.

  23. Speech On Say No To Plastic [1 to 3 Minutes]

    1. Deterioration of Environment. Plastic is one of the greatest contributors to pollution. Plastic takes around 600 years to completely decompose. Plastic in various forms is dumped into landfills which reduces the fertility of the soil and hence it is a reason for soil pollution. 2.

  24. 10 Easily Ways to say NO to Plastic Everyday

    8. Use fabric napkins and handkerchiefs. The paper handkerchiefs are packed in plastic bags. So use napkins and handkerchiefs from paper or fabric cases, which you can wash and reuse. 9. Buy cardboard or in glass products. Avoid products enclosed in plastic packaging or drinks in disposable bottles.

  25. Say No to Plastic: RSTV

    Say No to Plastic RSTV - Download PDF Here. Rajya Sabha TV programs like 'The Big Picture', 'In Depth' and 'India's World' are informative programs that are important for UPSC preparation. In this article, you can read about the discussions held in the 'Big Picture' episode on "Say No to Plastic" for the IAS exam.

  26. 150, 200, 250, 300 & 400 Word Essay on Say No to Plastic In English And

    Ways to say no to plastic. 1) Use cloth and paper carry bags. Bags made of plastic are used in huge quantities for carrying materials. Shops produce a lot of plastic bags because their customers give them bags to transport items. When we are done with these plastic bags, we throw them away as waste.

  27. The Sunday Essay: A buzzy year

    The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of ... I rip off the plastic wrapping and rush to my bedroom to take it for a quick test drive. ... we say goodbye with a loaded look over ...