Article | A Small Handling Can Avert A Big Disaster | Dr (Ms) Sharad Singh | Central Chronicle | Plastic Waste

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A Small Handling Can Avert A Big Disaster

 -    Dr (Ms) Sharad Singh

Writer, Author & Social Activist

Blogger - "Climate Diary Of Dr (Ms) Sharad Singh"

*One of the biggest problems the world is facing today is the problem of plastic waste. A large part of this plastic waste comes out of our homes only. It not only causes pollution but also chokes sewage and creates serious situations like floods. It kills stray animals and its toxic fumes can kill humans too. It is truth that we cannot completely stop the use of plastic but we have to focus on what we can do to tackle this problem?*

 

There are two incidents that I want to share with you. The first incident is that a new flyover has been built in my city. It looks very attractive at night. I reached that flyover and shot a video of myself with my mobile. When I came home and saw the video, I saw a stack of snacks lying near my feet. In that beautiful video he looked as bad as a black spot. I felt sad that why someone threw that empty packet there? Why not dumped in the dustbin? The second incident is that one day I was passing by a road and someone had burnt garbage on the side of it. The garbage also contained plastic items, the toxic fumes of which made me suffocate. The black smoke was heavy and was slowly spreading in the surrounding area. It was not dissolving quickly in the air. Actually this was a deadly way to dispose of plastic. If there was an asthma patient in that area, his life could have been in danger.

Plastic waste, or plastic pollution, is 'the accumulation of plastic objects (plastic bottles and much more) in the Earth's environment that adversely affects wildlife, wildlife habitat, and humans. Plastic pollution can alter habitats and natural processes, reducing ecosystems' ability to adapt to climate change, directly affecting millions of people's livelihoods, food production capabilities and social well-being. It has been observed that disposal of plastic waste is a serious concern due to improper collection and segregation system. Only 60% of the plastic produced is recycled, balance 9400 Tonnes of plastic is left unattended in environment causing land, air and water pollution. 

 

The Green colour dustbins are meant for wet and biodegradable wastes, kitchen wastes including vegetables and fruits skins.  Blue dustbins are meant for disposal of plastic wrappers and non- biodegradable wastes. Reducing the use of plastic is essential because it prevents pollution and reduces the demand for fossil fuel consumption while saving natural resources and energy. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which are contributing to climate change. Plastic pollution can alter habitats and natural processes, reducing ecosystems’ ability to adapt to climate change, directly affecting millions of people’s livelihoods, food production capabilities and social well-being. 

Five Ways Plastic Harms the Environment. First, it is produce chemical pollution. Plastic also harms the environment through pollution. Plastics are essentially made from oil and gas. Mining these nonrenewable resources produces harmful chemicals like benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, ozone, sulfur dioxide, and many more.

Second, it creates micro-plastics. Micro-plastics are now found just about everywhere. These small particles pollute waterways, soil, plants, animals and humans. The effects of micro-plastics are being newly studied. Micro-plastics have been shown to affect soil quality, the microbes that live in it, and the tiny insects responsible for decomposition. Micro-plastics also affect larger animals in many ways, from damaging their DNA, stunting their growth, damaging reproductive organs and more.

Third, plastic waste tends to accumulate as a waste that does not decompose on its own. Fourth, when this plastic waste reaches the sewage system, it chokes it. One of the major reasons for the floods in Mumbai a few years back was sewage choked by plastic waste.

Fourth, after being thrown in the dustbin, plastic waste is eaten by stray animals along with other food items in our country. There are incidents of cows dying due to eating plastic bags. Plastic bags are not digests and prove to be fatal for them by getting stuck in their intestines.

Fifth, many countries in the world illegally dump plastic waste into the ocean.  In the marine world large numbers of coral reeves are damaged. Plastic wastes are huge damage to marine life. By this cause marine beach are polluted too.

If seen, water, land, air all are harmed by plastic waste. That's why the best way to avoid plastic waste is to reduce the use of plastic. But it is also true that the utility of plastic has become a necessity in our life in such a way that we cannot leave it completely. Therefore, it is important that we learn to manage the waste of the plastic we use. Only then can we avoid the ill effects of plastic waste. Yes, we should keep the separate plastic waste of our homes  and should be dump it in the blue colored dustbin which is made for the same. This will facilitate those who dispose of plastic waste and we will be able to avoid the harmful effects of plastic waste. This small handling can save us from big danger.

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 (16.04.2023)

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