Since the 50s the production of plastic is greater than that of almost all the materials that exist and, in addition, the majority of this plastic is designed so that after its use is discarded. The world’s single -use plastic production has not stopped growing and is associated with the world population consumption model, such as the increase in the “Take Away” service or the celebration of events (birthdays, parties…) in which it is more “easy” to use and throw, to use and wash.
If you want to know what the single -use plastics are and what damage does the plastic do in the environment, continue reading this interesting ecology article in which we clarify What are the plastics of only one use, examples, consequences and prohibition of these.
What are single -use plastics
Single -use plastics are those designed and manufactured so that they can be used only once before being recycled or discarded, the latter being the action that is most According to the UN, about 9% of plastics are recycled worldwide. Therefore, there are plastics that use them a few minutes and then end up in the ecosystems, taking several centuries to degrade and contaminating during all this time.
We recommend you learn about the different types of plastics with this other post.
Single -use plastics examples
As already mentioned, plastics of this type are those that are used and then thrown away, some single -use plastics examples They are the following (the time it takes to degrade) is also indicated:
- Plastic bags, which take up to 400 years to decompose. We recommend knowing these alternatives to replace plastic bags.
- Plastic bottles, present in the environment for 450 years if left in the environment.
- Unicel, so used for food container or for packing furniture and that can take more than 500 years to disappear naturally.
- Pajitas or reeds to drink, something so small that it cannot seem harmful, it generates a big problem to marine species, since they can ingest them causing their drowning, it takes up to more than 100 years to degrade.
- Bastoncillos for the ears, a utensil that in addition to not being the most appropriate for the cleaning of the ear takes 300 years to degrade.
- Plastic dishes used for events with a large number of person with the purpose of seeking time and comfort savings since they are thrown and are not cleaned, this time savings involve the generation of tons of plastics that will take 50 years to decompose.
We recommend reading this other ecology article Verde on how long it takes to degrade plastic.
Consequences of single -use plastic
The single -use plastic problems that are not well managed can be of different types:
Economic problems
- Cost in the transport of waste to recycling plants.
- Investment for garbage cleaning in natural areas.
Environmental problems
- Contamination of bodies of water and soils.
- Among 60-90% of the garbage found in the sea are plastics.
- Blocking of river roads and natural disasters are aggravated.
- Marine animals end up ingesting plastics, passing these to the food chain, in addition many of these die from the problems that plastics create in their digestive systems.
Health problems
- They end up obstructing sewerage networks, becoming perfect areas for mosquito breeding, raising the possibility of disease transmission.
- Plastics when decomposing release chemical substances that are toxic to health or emissions are given if burned.
- Visual contamination by plastics found in the environment, causing a loss in well -being.
- Damage to the digestive system by the microplastics introduced and the food chain.
It is estimated that by 2050 the amount of plastic discarded in the environment and landfills will be around 12 million metric tons. This will occur as long as the correct measures are not taken so that the consumption model is not based on the use of plastic and, in addition, a good waste management must be carried out with the aim of eliminating the plastic of a single use, so that the environment and the health of living beings are not affected.
To learn more about the problem of this material, you can read this other article on how to avoid plastic pollution.
Prohibition of single -use plastics
There are already many countries that add to the regulation of single -use plastics, depending on the regulations of each area will be seen What plastics are prohibited.
- The first country in the world to ban plastic bags already in 2002 was Bangladesh.
- In the airports of India the use of disposable plastics has been eliminated.
- In Europe, by 2021, the sale of single -use plastics such as rods, straws, cutlery or vessels will be prohibited.
- In 25 countries in Africa the use of plastic bags is prohibited, in some of them as Kenya even punishes its use with jail penalty.
- In the American continent, Chile is a pioneer in the prohibition in the use of plastic bags in supermarkets and large establishments and Costa Rica announced that by 2021 it would be added to the prohibition of all plastics designed for only one use.
- New Zealand already in 2019 began to ban plastic bags, as well as the large chains of Australian supermarkets.
- In Mumbai, the use of plastic bottles, vessels or bags is penalized with jail.
In this video we talk about the serious problem that the plastics in the sea.
If you want to read more articles similar to Single -use plastics: what are, examples, consequences and prohibitionwe recommend that you enter our pollution category.
- Sandra Maldonado. (Sep 25, 2018). Oceana Peru. 10 Graphic data on single-use plastics: https://peru.oceana.org/es/blog/10-datos-graficos-sobre-los-plasticos-de-un-solo-uso#:~:text=1.,2.
- Drafting of Alpedrete City Council. (Aug 20. 2018). Alpedrete City Council. 1 Pajita takes more than 100 years to degrade: https://www.alpedrete.es/1-pajita-tard-en-degrasar-mas-de-100-Uanos/
- EFE Agency Writing. (Jun 5 2018). EFE agency. The UN warns that only 9 % of the plastic used in the world is recycled: https://www.efe.com/efe/espana/Sociedad/la-onu-advierte-de-que-solo-el-el-9-del-platic-seado-en-mundo-se-recicla/10004-36384888888888
