Helena Joyce
Plastic pollution is the accumulation of synthetic plastic products in the environment. Plastics have been in existence since the invention of the first synthetic polymer in 1869, but plastic pollution has become a significant issue since the large-scale production of plastics following World War II. Plastic waste is now ubiquitous, found in the air, soil, freshwater, and the sea, with an estimated 24 million tonnes of plastics entering aquatic ecosystems annually. The sources of plastic pollution are diverse, ranging from land-based sources such as mismanaged waste and industrial runoff to maritime activities such as fishing and cruise ships. The impacts of plastic pollution are far-reaching, endangering marine life, human health, and the planet.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year plastic pollution started | Plastic pollution started around 1869, when the first synthetic polymer was invented. However, plastic pollution became more prominent after World War II, when plastics began to be produced in large quantities. |
| Plastic production growth | From 1.5 million metric tons in 1950 to an estimated 359 million metric tons in 2018. |
| Plastic waste in the ocean | It is estimated that 94% of plastic pollution in the Mediterranean Sea is in the form of macroplastics, with microplastics comprising a significant portion as well. Annually, between 4.8 million and 12.7 million metric tons of plastic are discarded into the oceans by countries with coastlines. |
| Sources of plastic pollution | Land-based sources include mismanaged waste from households, wastewater, and industry (e.g., agriculture, plastic manufacturing). Maritime activities, such as fishing vessels and cruise ships, also contribute. Rivers are a dominant pathway for plastics to reach the ocean. |
| Environmental impact | Plastic pollution has adverse effects on marine life, human health, and the planet. It has been found in various environments, from Mount Everest to the ocean. |
| Solutions | Solutions include plastic reduction, building a circular economy, improving waste management systems, developing new materials and technologies, cleanup efforts, outreach, and education. The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act aims to hold brands, manufacturers, and the plastics industry accountable. |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic production and pollution history
Plastic is a term used to describe materials that can be formed and moulded under heat and pressure. Polymers, which are the chemical class of materials that make up all modern plastics, are large molecules consisting of chains of smaller molecules (monomers). The process of combining these monomers through heat and pressure is called polymerisation.
The first synthetic polymer was invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, who treated cellulose derived from cotton fibre with camphor. This plastic could be crafted into a variety of shapes and imitated natural substances like tortoiseshell, horn, linen, and ivory. However, the creation of the first fully synthetic plastic, which contained no molecules found in nature, is credited to Leo Baekeland, who invented Bakelite in 1907. Baekeland was searching for a synthetic substitute for shellac, a natural electrical insulator, and his invention was durable, heat-resistant, and suitable for mechanical mass production.
The plastics revolution was accelerated by World War II, which necessitated a great expansion of the plastics industry in the United States. Synthetic plastics provided substitutes for scarce natural resources, with nylon being used for parachutes, ropes, body armour, and helmet liners, and Plexiglas providing an alternative to glass for aircraft windows. During this period, plastic production in the United States increased by 300%.
In the postwar years, perceptions of plastic began to shift. Plastic debris in the oceans was first observed in the 1960s, and environmental concerns grew with incidents like a major oil spill off the California coast in 1969. In the 1970s and 1980s, anxiety about waste increased, with plastic becoming a target due to its disposable nature and permanence in the environment. The plastics industry offered recycling as a solution, and influential drives were led to encourage municipalities to adopt recycling as part of their waste management systems.
Despite these efforts, plastic pollution remains a significant issue. Rivers are a dominant pathway for plastics to reach the ocean, and it is estimated that more than 24 million tonnes of plastics enter aquatic ecosystems each year. The sources of plastic pollution are diverse, ranging from mismanaged waste from households to industrial activities. While legislative attempts have been made to address the issue, such as the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, the complex nature of the problem requires a toolbox of solutions, including plastic reduction, improved waste management, innovation, and global collaboration.
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Plastic's environmental impact
Plastic pollution has become ubiquitous in natural and built environments, with plastic waste ending up in waterways, agricultural soils, rivers, and oceans. The first synthetic polymer was invented in 1869, and since then, plastic has saturated our world and changed the way we live.
Plastic pollution poses a threat to the marine environment, with marine species at higher risk of ingesting plastic, suffocating, or becoming entangled in plastic pollution. More than 1,500 species in marine and terrestrial environments are known to ingest plastics. Plastic pollution also affects human health, with microplastics and nanoplastics found in all sources of water, types of food, placentas of pregnant people, and human stool ever tested. The ingestion or inhalation of microplastics can lead to chronic inflammation, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and even stroke.
The sources of plastic pollution are diverse, with much of it entering the ocean from land through mismanaged waste, littering, natural disasters, accidental spills, or sewage overflows. Rivers are a dominant pathway for plastics to reach the ocean. Plastic pollution is also caused by maritime activities, such as fishing vessels and cruise ships.
There have been legislative attempts to de-pollute the ocean and remove plastic from waterways, such as the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act passed by the U.S. Congress. The EU's Zero Pollution Action Plan also aims to reduce plastic litter at sea and microplastics released into the environment. However, plastic production is still accelerating, with global consumption set to double by 2050.
To address plastic pollution, we need a diverse toolbox of solutions, including plastic reduction, improved waste management systems, innovation, cleanup, outreach, and education. It is essential to work together at all levels, from individuals to governments, to tackle this complex issue and protect our oceans and ecosystems for future generations.
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Plastic pollution solutions
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that poses severe threats to marine life, human health, and the planet. While legislative attempts have been made to address this issue, such as the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, it is essential to implement effective solutions to combat plastic pollution. Here are some detailed and direct approaches to tackle plastic pollution:
Reduce Plastic Consumption:
Encourage individuals, businesses, and governments to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics and promote reusable alternatives. This includes opting for reusable water bottles, avoiding products with microplastics, and choosing natural exfoliants instead of plastic scrubbers.
Improve Waste Management:
Enhance waste management systems to prevent plastic from reaching oceans and other ecosystems. Properly manage household waste, wastewater, and industrial waste to reduce plastic pollution from land-based sources, which account for around 80% of marine plastic pollution.
Support Recycling Initiatives:
Promote genuine recycling initiatives and avoid greenwashing, where corporations falsely advertise environmentally friendly practices. Encourage the development and adoption of sustainable materials and technologies, ensuring that recycling efforts are just and equitable.
Education and Outreach:
Educate individuals about the impacts of plastic pollution and provide accessible information on how to reduce plastic consumption, recycle properly, and support alternative solutions. Outreach programs can help spread awareness and engage communities in plastic reduction efforts.
Policy Enforcement:
Enact and enforce strong policies that address plastic pollution at all stages, from production to disposal. This includes regulations on plastic manufacturing, waste management, and the promotion of regenerative strategies to prevent plastic pollution.
Collaboration and Systemic Change:
Foster collaboration between the plastic industry, waste managers, scientists, governments, and communities to address plastic pollution. Advocate for systemic change that prioritizes the health of the planet and affected communities, ensuring that solutions are non-toxic, equitable, and accessible to all.
By implementing these solutions and embracing a future with less plastic, we can protect our oceans, ecosystems, and the health of current and future generations.
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Plastic waste recycling and disposal
Plastic pollution has been a growing concern since the invention of synthetic polymers in 1869. John Wesley Hyatt created the first synthetic polymer, marking the beginning of the plastics revolution. Over the last 50 years, plastics have become an integral part of our lives, offering convenience and affordability. However, the consequences of plastic waste on the environment have become increasingly evident.
The recycling process can vary, with feedstock recycling being one method. This process converts waste plastic into its starting chemicals, which can then be used to create new plastic. However, this method is often costly in terms of energy and capital. Another approach is incineration, which is prevalent in some countries, especially those with landfill diversion policies. While incineration reduces landfill waste, early incinerators without advanced emission-control systems contributed to the release of harmful compounds.
Biodegradation, or the biological conversion of plastic waste into CO2, H2O, or biomass, is another disposal method. While it may be effective for certain types of plastic waste, it is not a true recycling option as it does not recover the embedded energy and chemistry of the polymer. Instead, it is a waste destruction option that can be valuable in minimising the environmental impact of certain high-risk polymers.
The complex nature of plastic pollution requires a diverse set of solutions. This includes plastic reduction, the development of a circular economy, improved waste management systems, innovation in new materials and technologies, and collaborative efforts from various sectors and individuals worldwide. Additionally, legislative actions, such as the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, have been implemented to address plastic pollution in oceans.
To combat plastic waste, innovative companies like TerraCycle have emerged, offering recycling solutions for even hard-to-recycle materials. TerraCycle operates in over 20 countries and engages millions of people in their mission to put the planet first. Their research and development focus on creating solutions to recycle the unrecyclable, striving for a future where recycling programs are no longer needed.
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Plastic pollution legislation
Plastic pollution has been a problem for decades, with the ocean being used as a dumping ground for plastic, sewage, industrial and chemical waste. The first synthetic polymer was invented in 1869, and since then, plastic has saturated our world and changed the way we live.
There have been legislative attempts to address plastic pollution and remove plastic from waterways. For example, in the US, the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act was passed four years after the National Academy of Sciences discovered the extent of ocean plastic pollution. In the 1980s, the Society of the Plastics Industry developed the plastic resin identification code to aid recycling and disposal. However, our reliance on plastic has continued to grow, with the amount of plastic waste generated in the early 2000s rising more in a single decade than in the previous 40 years.
Despite a lack of federal regulations on single-use plastic in the US, several states and cities have implemented their own regulations or acts to restrict or ban such products. For instance, in 2014, California enacted Senate Bill 270, becoming the first state to ban single-use plastic bags at large retail stores. Vermont's Senate Bill 113, passed in 2019, is another example of comprehensive single-use plastic ban legislation. More recently, in 2022, New Jersey law P.L. 2020, c117 prevented stores and food services from providing single-use plastic or paper bags.
At the federal level, the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2021 (BFFPPA) is a significant piece of legislation. Sponsored by Sen. Jeff Merkley and Rep. Alan Lowenthal, it aims to reduce throwaway plastics, enact producer responsibility, and combat false solutions like incineration. The BFFPPA is part of a broader set of public policies and government initiatives to address the plastic pollution crisis.
To effectively tackle the plastic pollution crisis, a diverse set of solutions is required, including plastic reduction, improved waste management systems, innovation, cleanup, outreach, and education. Collaboration is also essential, with all levels of government, the plastic industry, waste managers, scientists, and the public needing to work together.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic pollution has been an issue since the large-scale production of plastics following World War II.
Plastic pollution comes from a variety of sources, including mismanaged waste from households, industry, and agriculture. Rivers are a dominant pathway for plastics to reach the ocean.
Plastic pollution has adverse effects on marine life, the integrity of food supplies, and people's livelihoods. Marine animals can become entangled in plastic debris or ingest it, leading to injuries and fatalities. Microplastics can also enter the human food chain.
Reducing plastic pollution requires a range of solutions, including plastic reduction, improved waste management, innovation, cleanup, outreach, and education. Individuals can also make a difference by cutting back on single-use plastic and supporting green policies.
