Time to take action on plastic waste

While driving through the snow-capped mountain ranges of northern Pakistan, one is enthralled by the breathtaking majesty of the views. Speckled among the verdant green valleys are turquoise blue lakes; the bucolic settings are ideal for nature lovers. Unfortunately, peering out through the window of my car, the spectacle became poignant and the allure was marred by heaps of plastic waste choking the springs, creeks and glaciers of the valley. I couldn’t help but wonder where are we heading?
In the last few decades, we have become a society that relies heavily on disposable plastic products. This uncontrollable reliability on plastic is an unsustainable option in today’s world, which is combating the increasing woes of climate change. According to one estimate, the world’s total plastic production during the first decade of this century was roughly equal to that of the entire 20^th century.
Plastic is versatile, lightweight, strong, flexible and inexpensive, and these qualities have led us to develop a voracious appetite for the over-consumption of plastic products. Most of the plastic that goes to waste is manufactured for very short-term use, such as disposable bottles, straws, plastic bags, coffee cups and container lids, plastic cutlery and plates, as well as hospital waste including syringes. A very small percentage of this waste is actually recycled, the rest of it goes to landfill sites, where it will persist for hundreds or thousands of years.
The environmental cost of using plastic hugely outweighs the short-term benefits. As reiterated by CNBC documentary “Trash Inc.: The Secret life of Trash,” the average consumer is made to believe, erroneously, that the plastic waste is gone once it is in the bin and it is then the responsibility of the trash industry. This misconception is the root cause of the problem. What we do with the product, which was intentionally made to be cheap and indestructible, is as much our responsibility as is it is that of the refuse industry. We are completely dependent on a product for which we don’t have an effective disposal method; until recently that is, with the development of biodegradable additives that help plastics decompose.

The reality of plastic pollution has sobering consequences, as this omnipresent and toxic pollutant is creeping into every nook and cranny around the country.

Dr. Mehreen Mujtaba

All around the world, millions of tons of plastic waste are disposed of each year. The US produces 30 million tons of it every year, the UK five million tons and Australia 1.5 million tons. Other countries around the world follow this trend. According to a report by the Global Industry Analysts, annual plastic consumption was set to reach an astounding 297.5 million tons by the end of 2015. Across the world, plastic makes up more than 85 percent of the litter on the beaches.
At present, the total solid waste generated in Pakistan is about 20 million tons a year, or approximately 55,000 tons every day. Karachi city alone generates 12,000 tons of solid waste every day. The exact amount of plastic waste is not known but, judging by consumer trends, it wouldn’t be wrong to assume it is very high.
Plastic is potentially hazardous to health due largely to the nature of the chemical additives used in its production. The fact plastic has carcinogenic properties is irrefutable. In addition, plastics are neurotoxic and cause hormonal balance disruptions. Fish and other marine animals are affected through entanglement and direct ingestion, leading to increased levels of plastic byproducts in humans via the food chain.
Education, legislation and awareness are key drivers of change if we are to promote a more sustainable lifestyle and educate people on the adverse effects of plastic waste on their lives. Being educated on the situation and aware of the consequences will ultimately lead us toward better choices in terms of our consumption patterns and plastic waste management at an individual level. Legislation banning the injudicious use of plastic bags and levying steep taxes can further help decrease the use of plastic. Charging for plastic bags in market places can also alter consumer behavior patterns.
The print and electronic media can be useful vehicles for spreading awareness and information, while sustainable innovations and technologies like biodegradable plastic can help curb our voracious appetite for plastic.
A promising route toward a future of better plastic waste management is recycling. In Pakistan, the recycling industry can lead the path to considerable opportunities and solutions. Another legislative milestone the government can incorporate in its policy is the concept of zero waste. In developing countries like Pakistan, such a strategy would encompass waste reduction, reuse and recycling, as well as producer responsibility and eco designs.
The reality of plastic pollution has sobering consequences as this slow, silent, ever-increasing, omnipresent and toxic pollutant is creeping into every nook and cranny around our cities, as well as rural areas around the country. It is high time we took action.
• Dr. Mehreen Mujtaba is a freelance consultant working in the areas of environment and health.